Statistic and Criminology Theory

An explanation of why crime occurs can be found in a criminal theory. Additionally, it explains the trends in a crime. This means that it includes the time the law is created, the time it is broken, and the time a person exhibits dubious behavior. In criminology, statistical information is crucial. This is because it offers data that is supported by evidence for a criminology hypothesis. Usually, criminology theories are supported or refuted using the information. We can utilize statistical data to assess whether or not our proposed explanation is corroborated by the data, according to Fitzgerald & Fitzgerald (2013). Two categories of static data can be used to illuminate a criminology theory. both the arrest data and the self-report data. A self-reported data is a type of statistical data which is acquired by using methods such as observations, case studies or surveys among others. An arrest data is a data which is usually acquired by the police departments about the criminals.

Statistical data is used to describe the trends in crime in an area. It can be used in analyzing crime committed by people of different ages, educational level, and social class among other social variables in a society. With the help of self-reported and arrest data, the police can use it to justify that a crime has taken place and why. For instance, the may use the information to explain which age group is addicted to drug abuse and probably come up with a reason as to why the crime is taking place by considering the social variables in a state or city. Another example can be explained by a study which was conducted to determine gender-specific differences in rates of fatal violence and victimization on homicides which took place in the United States between 1976 and 1987 for people of 15 years and above. The study proves that men committed more homicides than women (Kellerman & Mercy, 1992). This can be used to provide an empirical evidence that men are more likely to commit crimes compared to the female theory. Using the statistical data on the crime trends, the administrators and policymakers are likely to impose preventive measures for different crimes.

Statistical data can also be used to explain the nature and type of a crime committed. It can be explained by using factors such as age, race, and gender. This helps to show the number of criminals in the country. Different crimes are treated differently. There are many assumptions on how crime can be deterred. For instance, some people, administrators, and researchers may assume that longer prison terms may reduce or deter crime. In 2014 a report by the “National Research Council on mass incarceration in the United States finds that lengthy prison sentences are not the best way to deter crime” (Adwar, 2014). The report which was commissioned by the justice department found that ”teens didn’t commit significantly fewer crimes after they turned 18, even though the severity of punishments increased” (Adwar, 2014). From the above data, it is clear that although long prison terms may be imposed as a way to reduce/deter crime it is not an effective way.

Statistical data can also be used to predict the future of crime. With the available arrests data and self-reported data, the administrators are able to identify the crime hot spots. This provides information on the future crime likely to occur and the place also. If a place is predicted that it will have a high crime rate, more police will be deployed in the area. This means that the statistical data is used by the police to come up with a strategy to reduce the crime rate in the crime hotspots.

In conclusion, it is clear that statistical data plays a major role in criminology theory. This is because from the above discussion it supports the criminology theory. It helps the administrators describe, explain and predict the indicators of crime rates in an area.

References

Adwar, C. (2014). Here’s Evidence That Insanely Long Prison Terms Are A Bad Way To Deter Crime. Business Insider. Retrieved 18 September 2017, from http://www.businessinsider.com/report-says-long-sentences-dont-deter-crime-2014-5?IR=T

Fitzgerald, J., & Fitzgerald, J. (2013). Statistics for criminal justice and criminology in practice and research: An introduction. Sage.

Kellermann, A. L., & Mercy, J. A. (1992). Men, women, and murder: gender-specific differences in rates of fatal violence and victimization. Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 33(1), 1-5.