Criminologists have long been concerned with finding the most accurate measures available for detailing the extent of criminal activity:Summarize the major problems associated with crime measurement.Differentiate between official reports, victim surveys, and self-report data.

Criminologists have long been concerned with finding the most accurate measures available for detailing the extent of criminal activity. Historically, those studying crime and justice have used a triangulated method for assessing the amount of criminal activity taking place in the United States by gathering information from offenders, victims, and agencies within the criminal justice system.

This lesson examines the different sources of data currently in use, evaluates their effectiveness, and looks toward the future at crime measurement techniques that will hopefully result in more accurate findings.

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
Summarize the major problems associated with crime measurement;

Differentiate between official reports, victim surveys, and self-report data; and

Understand the technologies associated with improving crime measurement as well as new techniques for counting crime.

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