Crime Statistics Essay

Crime statistics can be inaccurate and not useful due to; the high quantities of unreported crime, imbalances of how crimes are reported over time and crime obscured within authorities. However, despite the inconsistencies crime statistics has, it remains existent to aid the criminal justice system due to its efficiency. Unreported crimes for e.g. sexual assault and domestic abuse cases are underrepresented due to the lack of offenders reported. On the institutional aspect, many criticize that crime statistics cannot be reliable due to discretion and leniency towards violations by police officers and white collar corporations.

Over time, crime statistics has continued to be amended in order to be as accurately represented as possible. Initially,

Especially crimes which are less commonly reported like sexual assault offences. As demonstrated through crime surveys taken from May 1994 to April 1995, 606800 victims of robbery, assault and sexual assault were discovered. Whereas, only 227000 cases were actually reported to the police. Research suggests the main reasons to the lack of reporting of assault cases is correlated with; the victim’s assumptions of the criminal justice system, perspective on how serious the crime is, the frequency of abuse, the relationship between the offender and victim and the possibility of permanent resolution. In 1994, only 32.1% of assault cases were reported to the police in comparison to 78.5% of home invasion cases recorded. Studies suggest the outstanding reason for 34.6% of non-reported cases of assault, was due to the victim’s presumption their matter would be too insignificant for police to be interested in (Dr. Adam

In consideration of its restraints, statistics should be approached rationally and viewed from various relevant sources to check its credibility. Statistics are beneficial in functions such as; police performance administration, establishing crime control, assessing crime prevention programs, crime trend calculation, criminology theory analysis and representing efficiency of criminal justice procedures. Satisfaction with police performance can be evaluated to ensure police will deliver their upmost execution and build confidence in the community. Police will be capable of establishing crime control settings and concentrating on areas of prevalent and repetitive crime. Forecasting trends and stimulation of modelling criminal justice processes, facilitate legal representatives to make more effective policies and fund distribution. Theories are then able to be tested and measured in order for predictions of potential crime and its origins to be made. Law enforcement, can generate crime prevention tactics and strategies to reduce the crime (Morgan, Clare, 2012, p.38,39). A key advantage of statistics is strengthening theory studies so researchers can determine accurate conclusions, make comparisons, acquire new information, extensively understand issues and formulate appropriate methods of implementation for the criminal justice system. (Walker, 1999,