Review:Measuring And Comparing Crime In And Across Nations

In the article Measuring and Comparing Crime in and Across Nations the major points discussed are the background of crime data both diversely and globally, the limitations of crime data, and how international crime data compares. The author Harry Dammer discusses the different applications of how data in the United States is collected but more importantly how other systems are utilized in the international fight against crime.

The beginning of crime data collection begins with various agencies that collect, compare, and publish findings. It explains the history of how collecting international crime data became important to the agency known as the United Nations (UN). Later, the UN transitioned responsibility to the International Crime Police Organization or Interpol. Currently, the task rests with the United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operation of Criminal Justice Systems (UNCJS). The article continues by discussing how many ways crime can be collected, but more precisely, which is most effective.

The first type administered by the United States is the Uniform Crime Report (UCR). The author then explains the new agency in charge of surveying crime data as," an updated version of the UCR called the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)" (Dammer, 2006, p 21). Then he explains where the information comes from. Dammer states," It is collected by over 16, 000 city, county, and law enforcement agencies" (Dammer, 2006, p 20). This method gives agencies an insight into the incidence of each crime committed. Another survey used in the United States is the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) which helps acquire estimates of unreported crime. Self-reported surveys are also used by giving citizens anonymous questioners to complete. The information is then compiled to acquire how many victimless crimes are committed and not reported to authorities. After all information is collected from various sources, it is sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for publication.

The article continues to explore other early criminal data surveys distributed