Uniform Crime Reporting Program: Nationwide Data & Trends - Essay Sample

The Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UCR) is a report containing country-wide statistical data of over 17,000 law enforcement agencies that provide information on illegal activities reported to them. The program aims to develop statistics on crime that are to be used by the law enforcement agency in its management.

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The data collected by the program can be used to determine the country’s social trends or indicators. The crimes reported are often classified into eight major groups (UCR, 2018). They include murder and manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, and crimes involving property, i.e., arson, burglary, larceny-theft, and theft of motor vehicles. When compounded, theses eight major crimes form a crime index that generally indicates the rates of fluctuation of the various crime levels.

This data is collected at the local level and submitted to the Federal Bureau Investigation (FBI), who, in return, publish it annually. It contains information on the various types of crimes committed at the local level, the number of arrests that were made or effected, crimes that were not entirely solved or settled, etc. From the data, several determinations can be made. Whether or not a region has adequate police cover or requires reinforcement can be determined based on the reports. Further, the need to modify budgets can be established vis-à-vis the regional data reports.

However, the report is often not conclusive, as it only presents information on crimes that are known to the police. The data may, therefore, not be reliable as there could be many crimes that occur but go unreported. For instance, crimes that occur in the private sector, for example, shoplifting or company internal matters- where the losses incurred by the company are best served through compensation rather than prosecution- are barely reported to the police.

Describe a Data Gathering Strategy and Provide a Rationale for Why You Chose that Strategy

The UCR report contains data collected from over 17,000 reporting agencies all over the country. As such, it is practically impossible to go to all these agencies to collect or assess data physically. Much as quantitative analysis would prove to be more accurate, document review, as a form of qualitative analysis would be appropriate in this case. Quantitative analysis is the mode used in the initial collection of the data in the local regions. As crimes are reported, they are recorded and compiled. Thereafter, they are submitted to the FBI, which in turn prepares the UCR report. My data gathering strategy, therefore, proceeds on the assumption that the data collected from the local regions is accurate.

Data submitted to the FBI would provide an accurate assumption of the general social indicators at the local levels. An analysis of this data would, therefore, help as a form of data gathering strategy. From the reports, one can determine what are the common crimes in a particular region, and make a further determination on their causes. Further, the number of unsolved crimes could generally indicate the complacency levels in the local enforcement authorities, as well as their need for reinforcement or more funding.

Tedious as it may be, analysis of the data submitted would help provide an appropriate summary of any information required. Further, based on the annual reports, the different yearly signs of progress can be determined, and a prediction of what is expected to come in the future can be made. As such, the enforcement agencies can prepare in advance to counter any anticipated challenges. It is, therefore, possible to work towards a reduction in the level of crimes or crime rates experienced at the local regions and the country as a whole. A document review methodology is, therefore, more appropriate for this task.

Discuss the Crime Trends Comparing Happy Town, Frown Town, Smooth Town, and Cool Town Over the Past Five Years.

Happy Town witnessed an increase in the number of major crimes. This increase was attributed to the rising number of thefts, such as murder, rape, aggravated assault, and battery. Before 2015, the number f cases reported were 167. This number then rose to 214 in the following year. In Frown Town, the annual crime rate declined by 17%. This decline is attributed to the cooperation amongst the police and the community. Further, the law enforcement authorities’ change of attitude towards criminal investigation also contributed towards this decline. This shift in mindset led to the conclusion of more cases.

Smooth Town reported the lowest crime rates. The cases related to property that would usually be associated with the Town reduced significantly. Thus the low criminal prices recorded. Compared to its neighboring towns who have a similar population as it, the number of violent crimes reported was encouragingly small. Cool Town, owing to the increased efforts of the law enforcement authorities, witnessed a decline in its crime rates. The crime rates were at their lowest in over five years. While property-related thefts remained largely the same, crimes against people- i.e., rape, assault, battery, etc.- reduced significantly. The Chief of Police attributes the decline to the Town’s residence living up to its name and remaining “cool and calm,” with no intentions of occasioning harm on the others.

All four towns record significantly high levels of larceny thefts. Cases of murder and non-negligent manslaughter are rare, with the majority of the cities recording zero cases in a couple of years. Robbery, burglary, and motor vehicle thefts record similar numbers across all the four towns.

References

Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. (2018, September 10). Retrieved August 02, 2020, from https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/ucr