Category: Criminology

Assessing measures of crime and victimization

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Imagine you are a consultant for the Department of Justice (DOJ). You have been asked to assess measures of crime and victimization. You will then present your findings to the Department.

Research the Internet to find three scholarly resources that focus on measuring crime statistics.

Review these crime databases:

· Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR)

· National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)

· National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)

· United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

create a 15 slide (not including title and reference slides) PowerPoint presentation that includes audio or utilizes footnotes and that:

· Provides an overview of each of the crime databases listed above;

· Compares each system/database;

· Describes the advantages and disadvantages of each database; and

· Discusses whether combining databases would improve the understanding of victimization and better inform victimization redu

Forensic Evidence

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Discussion: Pick ONE of the Forensic Evidence Topics from Chapter 10 to discuss. In your initial post

describe and define the topic you have selected (including citation and source information)
explain how that type of forensic evidence can be applied in an investigative (what types of crimes it is associated with, how does it move an investigation forward)
discuss any strengths or weaknesses in that type of forensic evidence (is it hard to collect? how difficult is it to get analyzed? how conclusive is it?)
For example, if you have multiple shooting incidents where casings are recovered ballistic evidence can be useful in connecting crime scenes together, but without a recovered firearm, eyewitnesses accounts video of the crime, etc – how useful is that ballistic information? Plus, how easy is it to get that evidence to the right location to get it analyzed and compared? etc.

Forensic Evidence

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Discussion: Pick ONE of the Forensic Evidence Topics from Chapter 10 to discuss. In your initial post

describe and define the topic you have selected (including citation and source information)
explain how that type of forensic evidence can be applied in an investigative (what types of crimes it is associated with, how does it move an investigation forward)
discuss any strengths or weaknesses in that type of forensic evidence (is it hard to collect? how difficult is it to get analyzed? how conclusive is it?)
For example, if you have multiple shooting incidents where casings are recovered ballistic evidence can be useful in connecting crime scenes together, but without a recovered firearm, eyewitnesses accounts video of the crime, etc – how useful is that ballistic information? Plus, how easy is it to get that evidence to the right location to get it analyzed and compared? etc.

Victim interview strategy

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You are a Victim’s Advocate for persons who have been sexually assaulted. You have been very effective in recent past cases where police were unable to obtain significant information from victims of sexual assault. When you provided advocacy service to these victims you discovered that police interviews were done in a manner that indicated they (police) were in charge and that the victim needed to cooperate if he or she was to be believed and wanted anything done about the reported crime.
The Chief of Major Crimes has noted that you have been successful in providing information obtained from the victims that were unsuccessfully interviewed by the detectives in the respective investigations.
The Chief of Major Crimes wants you to explain why the police interviews of the victims are not successful and what the major crimes detectives can do to increase their effectiveness in interviewing the victims.
Focus your discussion on the following:

Prepare a list of the most important factors that police officers should include in their victim interview strategy of those who are reporting they have been sexually assaulted.
Explain why it is important to modify the interview based on the factors that you listed.

Victim interview strategy

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You are a Victim’s Advocate for persons who have been sexually assaulted. You have been very effective in recent past cases where police were unable to obtain significant information from victims of sexual assault. When you provided advocacy service to these victims you discovered that police interviews were done in a manner that indicated they (police) were in charge and that the victim needed to cooperate if he or she was to be believed and wanted anything done about the reported crime.
The Chief of Major Crimes has noted that you have been successful in providing information obtained from the victims that were unsuccessfully interviewed by the detectives in the respective investigations.
The Chief of Major Crimes wants you to explain why the police interviews of the victims are not successful and what the major crimes detectives can do to increase their effectiveness in interviewing the victims.
Focus your discussion on the following:

Prepare a list of the most important factors that police officers should include in their victim interview strategy of those who are reporting they have been sexually assaulted.
Explain why it is important to modify the interview based on the factors that you listed.

Reasonable Suspicion

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Discussion: So far in this course we have touched on the legal standards of: (1) reasonable suspicion (Terry v. Ohio); (2) probable cause; and (3) beyond a reasonable doubt.

In 3-4 paragraphs, discuss reasonable suspicion. In your post you should: (a) define and describe reasonable suspicion (with citation and source); (b) identify where this standard is applied in the criminal investigative process; and (c) why that standard is so important at that juncture of the process.

Reasonable Suspicion

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Discussion: So far in this course we have touched on the legal standards of: (1) reasonable suspicion (Terry v. Ohio); (2) probable cause; and (3) beyond a reasonable doubt.

In 3-4 paragraphs, discuss reasonable suspicion. In your post you should: (a) define and describe reasonable suspicion (with citation and source); (b) identify where this standard is applied in the criminal investigative process; and (c) why that standard is so important at that juncture of the process.