International Crime Statistics Some recent research experiences

1. International Crime StatisticsSome recent research experiences Paul Smit Research and Documentation Centre (WODC) Ministry of Justice, the Netherlands

2. A story of the struggle against all the zillion of problems you encounter when trying to make crime statistics between countries ‘comparable’ ….. ….. and how to succeed ….. ...... well, at least partially.

3. A story of the struggle against all the zillion of problems you encounter when trying to make crime statistics between countries ‘comparable’ ….. ….. and how to succeed ….. ...... well, at least partially.

4. A story of the struggle against all the zillions of problems you encounter when trying to make crime statistics between countries ‘comparable’ ….. ….. and how to succeed ….. ...... well, at least partially.

5. Four research projects • EUCPN report: Crime trends in the EU • Cambridge study on crime trends • Study on effectiveness and severeness of law enforcement • Study on detection rates

6. EUCPN report: Crime trends in the EU • Based on existing international datasources (ICVS, European Sourcebook, UK Data Collection, Eurobarometer) • Comparing trends is probably better than comparing rates.

7. Cambridge study on crime trends • 8 countries, will be published this year in a special issue of Crime and Justice • National data are used. On a national level the statistics are modified to meet the requirements (definitions imposed) • All individual country chapters follow the same format

8. Criminaliteit in Nederland (internationale vergelijking)

9. Study on effectiveness and severeness of law enforcement • Study presented at the ESC (2003) based on European Sourcebook data • Comparing ratios is probably better than comparing rates.

10. The law enforcement measuring points 1. Recorded crime 2. Suspected offenders 3. Sanctions and measures 4. Unsuspended prison sentences 5. Prisoners

11. Effectiveness 1. Recorded crime 2. Suspected offenders 3. Sanctions and measures 4. Unsuspended prison sentences 5. Prisoners

12. Severeness 1. Recorded crime 2. Suspected offenders 3. Sanctions and measures 4. Unsuspended prison sentences 5. Prisoners

13. Average actual length of prison days per recorded crime 1. Recorded crime 2. Suspected offenders 3. Sanctions and measures 4. Unsuspended prison sentences 5. Prisoners

15. Study on detection rates • Was published in the same European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research as the EUCPN study • Research question: Is the detection rate as published by various countries a good measure of the effectiveness of the police or do other factors also influence this rate?

16. Published detection rates

17. Method used • Identify different factors that could, potentially, influence the detection rate. • Use existing datasources (European Sourcebook, ICVS) and a questionnaire filled in by contacts in the different countries to ‘score’ those factors. • Analyse the possibility / probability that those factors indeed do influence the detection rate.

18. Criteria for solving crimes

19. Special investigative agencies

20. Counting units

21. Reporting rates

22. Reporting rate

23. Relative number of violent crimes

24. Relative number of violent crimes

25. Obligation to prosecute

26. Discretionary powers

27. Total country scores

28. Detection rates