There are several ways we count crime in the U.S. The major ones are the UCR, NCVS, and the Self-report surveys. The most common official way is the UCR. Go to the FBI homepage and examine the UCR.
1.Briefly describe the UCR. How does it operate, how and what data is collected?
Also list the 8 Part I or Index crimes. Note which four are personal and which four are property crimes. Which area of the country has the largest number of Crime Index offenses?
2.Comment on whether violent crime is going up or down. What part does the media play in this? Is our fear of crime proportional to the extent of crime?
3.List 4 criticisms of the UCR.
4.How does the UCR compare to the NCVS in the number of crimes committed? Why?
5.What is the difference between a personal and a property crime?
6.What is the aging-out phenomenon?
7.What is the Crime Rate? What is the equation the UCR uses to calculate the crime rate