UCR Performance Task

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Week 4 Assignment Document Library While your personal values and experiences are important, your report should be based solely on information provided in this document.

Table of Contents Happy Town Newspaper .......................................................................................................................................... 2

Frown Town Times ................................................................................................................................................... 3

Smooth Town Daily .................................................................................................................................................. 4

Cool Town News ...................................................................................................................................................... 5

Data Gathering Strategies ........................................................................................................................................ 6

Hierarchy Rule .......................................................................................................................................................... 7

Happy Town Police Department Crime Statistics .................................................................................................... 9

Frown Town Police Department Crime Statistics .................................................................................................... 9

Smooth Town Police Department Crime Statistics ............................................................................................... 10

Cool Town Police Department Crime Statistics ..................................................................................................... 10

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Happy Town Newspaper

3

Frown Town Times

4

Smooth Town Daily

5

Cool Town News

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Data Gathering Strategies The qualitative methods most commonly used in evaluation can be classified in three broad categories:

• in-depth interview • observation methods • document review

CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH: METHODS

Those interested in the study of criminology and criminal justice have at their disposal a wide range of research methods. Which of the particular research methods to use is entirely contingent upon the question being studied. Research questions typically fall into four categories of research: (1) descriptive, (2) exploratory, (3) explanatory, and (4) evaluative (Schutt). Descriptive research attempts to define and describe the social phenomena under investigation. Exploratory research seeks to identify the underlying meaning behind actions and individual behavior. Explanatory research seeks to identify the cause-(s) and effect(s) of social phenomena. Evaluation research seeks to determine the effects of an intervention on individual behavior. These four areas of research are not mutually exclusive; rather, they are designed to be used interactively in order to gain a deeper understanding of the question under investigation.

http://www.encyclopedia.com/law/legal-and-political-magazines/criminology-and-criminal-justice-research-methods

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Hierarchy Rule There is a significance to the order in which the Part I offenses are presented, with criminal homicide being the highest in the hierarchy and arson being the lowest. The Part I offenses are as follows:

1. Criminal Homicide a. Murder and Nonnegligent Manslaughter b. Manslaughter by Negligence

2. Forcible Rape

a. Rape by Force b. Attempts to Commit Forcible Rape

3. Robbery

a. Firearm b. Knife or Cutting Instrument c. Other Dangerous Weapon d. Strong-arm—Hands, Fists, Feet, etc.

4. Aggravated Assault

a. Firearm b. Knife or Cutting Instrument c. Other Dangerous Weapon d. Hands, Fists, Feet, etc.—Aggravated Injury

5. Burglary

a. Forcible Entry b. Unlawful Entry—No Force c. Attempted Forcible Entry

6. Larceny-theft (except motor vehicle theft) 7. Motor Vehicle Theft

a. Autos b. Trucks and Buses c. Other Vehicles

8. Arson

The experience of law enforcement agencies in handling UCR data shows that, for the most part, offenses of law occur singly as opposed to many being committed simultaneously. In these single- offense situations, law enforcement agencies must decide whether the crime is a Part I offense. If so, the agency must score the crime accordingly. However, if several offenses are committed at the same time and place by a person or a group of persons, a different approach must be used in classifying and scoring. The law enforcement matter in which many crimes are committed simultaneously is called a

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multiple-offense situation by the UCR Program. As a general rule, a multiple-offense situation requires classifying each of the offenses occurring and determining which of them are Part I crimes. The Hierarchy Rule requires that when more than one Part I offense is classified, the law enforcement agency must locate the offense that is highest on the hierarchy list and score that offense involved and not the other offense(s) in the multiple-offense situation.

The Hierarchy Rule applies only to crime reporting and does not affect the number of charges for which the defendant may be prosecuted in the courts. The offenses of justifiable homicide, motor vehicle theft, and arson are exceptions to the Hierarchy Rule.

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Happy Town Police Department Crime Statistics 2010 – 2015

Year Population1

Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter

Forcible rape Robbery

Aggravated assault Burglary

Larceny- theft

Motor vehicle

theft

2015 125,336 7 12 56 86 18 214 21

2014 132,426 7 12 53 83 19 205 22

2013 140,326 6 8 49 82 17 198 18

2012 161,331 5 4 50 80 18 201 20

2011 173,111 4 3 48 75 14 161 21

2010 168,010 0 2 36 72 10 162 17

Frown Town Police Department Crime Statistics 2010 – 2015

Year Population1

Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter

Forcible rape Robbery

Aggravated assault Burglary

Larceny- theft

Motor vehicle

theft

2015 111,002 0 2 26 53 14 126 18

2014 110,830 0 2 34 65 15 143 22

2013 110,750 2 1 26 61 17 141 18

2012 110,350 2 2 23 57 18 142 20

2011 110,111 0 1 19 55 14 139 21

2010 108,350 0 2 8 53 10 140 17

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Smooth Town Police Department Crime Statistics 2010 – 2015

Year Population1

Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter

Forcible rape Robbery

Aggravated assault Burglary

Larceny- theft

Motor vehicle

theft

2015 156,336 5 5 10 80 18 161 18

2014 148,426 4 4 8 75 19 167 17

2013 147,326 3 4 7 78 17 163 18

2012 145,331 5 3 9 77 18 162 20

2011 145,111 4 3 7 75 14 161 21

2010 120,010 0 5 8 78 10 162 17

Cool Town Police Department Crime Statistics 2010 – 2015

Year Population1

Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter

Forcible rape Robbery

Aggravated assault Burglary

Larceny- theft

Motor vehicle

theft

2015 175,336 0 2 26 53 14 126 18

2014 165,486 0 2 34 65 15 143 22

2013 154,126 2 1 26 61 17 141 18

2012 143,231 2 2 23 57 18 142 20

2011 133,119 0 1 19 55 14 139 21

2010 128,010 0 2 8 53 10 140 17