© Ane Venter
CHAPTER 4
Measuring the levels of crime
Page 101 – 127
1|Page
, © Ane Venter
Definitions:
Crime Human conduct in violation of Criminal Law
The increases and decreases in the rate of a specific crime, such as murder, rape, or
Crime trends burglary, over a period of time, usually a year.
Dark figure of crime The number of unreported crimes that are not reflected in official crime statistics.
The International Criminal Police Organization
INTERPOL An organisation facilitating international police cooperation.
Those crimes reported to the SAPS (police statistics) that resulted in prosecutions
Official crime statistics (court statistics) and convictions (correctional statistics).
○ Crime statistics from every region of the country – very important if you want to study the nature and extent
of crimes committed.
○ Crime statistics:
- Priority crimes can be identified + strategies developed to combat criminality.
- Used to plan and manage strategies and policies.
- Published to make public aware of seriousness and extent of certain crimes.
Led to establishment of Childline.
Crime Trends
Revealed by studying the increases and decreases in the rate of specific crime, such as murder, rape, or
burglary, over a period of time (usually a year).
○ Increases and decreases – influenced by factors such as:
- Economic climate in a country
- Level of education
- Average age of victims and perpetrators
○ Different types of crimes are committed in different areas / regions at different rates.
○ Crime trends / patterns – calculated using variables such as class, age, gender, and region.
○ Some crimes still go unreported.
○ Crime statistics / trends depicted in the media…
- May give perception that crime is out of control.
- Validity of interpretation can be questioned.
- People may use observed crime to measure crime problem.
○ Criminologists prefer to use official crime measures to develop theory or to influence policy.
2|Page
CHAPTER 4
Measuring the levels of crime
Page 101 – 127
1|Page
, © Ane Venter
Definitions:
Crime Human conduct in violation of Criminal Law
The increases and decreases in the rate of a specific crime, such as murder, rape, or
Crime trends burglary, over a period of time, usually a year.
Dark figure of crime The number of unreported crimes that are not reflected in official crime statistics.
The International Criminal Police Organization
INTERPOL An organisation facilitating international police cooperation.
Those crimes reported to the SAPS (police statistics) that resulted in prosecutions
Official crime statistics (court statistics) and convictions (correctional statistics).
○ Crime statistics from every region of the country – very important if you want to study the nature and extent
of crimes committed.
○ Crime statistics:
- Priority crimes can be identified + strategies developed to combat criminality.
- Used to plan and manage strategies and policies.
- Published to make public aware of seriousness and extent of certain crimes.
Led to establishment of Childline.
Crime Trends
Revealed by studying the increases and decreases in the rate of specific crime, such as murder, rape, or
burglary, over a period of time (usually a year).
○ Increases and decreases – influenced by factors such as:
- Economic climate in a country
- Level of education
- Average age of victims and perpetrators
○ Different types of crimes are committed in different areas / regions at different rates.
○ Crime trends / patterns – calculated using variables such as class, age, gender, and region.
○ Some crimes still go unreported.
○ Crime statistics / trends depicted in the media…
- May give perception that crime is out of control.
- Validity of interpretation can be questioned.
- People may use observed crime to measure crime problem.
○ Criminologists prefer to use official crime measures to develop theory or to influence policy.
2|Page
