How does the NCVS differ from the UCR/NIBRS which program would you regard as more reliable why
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The importance of the Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UCR) and the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) cannot be emphasized enough as they are the only two ongoing national measures of crime in the United States that provide annual level and change estimates. While discussions of the UCR and NCVS often focus on the differences between the two, the two systems share many similarities in their development over time as well as their influence on how crime has been defined and studied. This entry examines the origins and development of these two data collection systems individually and describes the similarities between them. This entry concludes by examining how the UCR and NCVS have contributed to criminology by shaping views on what crimes “count,” especially the focus on serious, violent street crimes. Alternative ways crime could be measured in the UCR and NCVS’s existing frameworks are discussed. Show
IntroductionThe Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UCR) and the National... This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution. Buying optionsChapter EUR 29.95 Price includes VAT (Singapore)
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Learn about institutional subscriptions Akiyama Y, Rosenthal HM (1990) The future of the uniform crime reporting program: its scope and promise. In: MacKenzie DL, Baunach PJ, Roberg RR (eds) Measuring crime: large-scale, long-range efforts. SUNY Press, Albany Google Scholar Barnett-Ryan C (2007) Introduction to the uniform crime reporting program. In: Lynch JP, Addington LA (eds) Understanding crime statistics: revisiting the divergence of the NCVS and the UCR. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 55–89 Google Scholar Biderman AD, Lynch JP (1991) Understanding crime incidence statistics: why the UCR diverges from the NCS. Springer, New York Google Scholar BJS (n.d.) NCVS redesign. http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/index.cfm?ty=tp‖tid=91. Retrieved 4 Feb 2012 Cantor D, Lynch JP (2000) Self-report surveys as measures of crime and criminal victimization. In: Duffee D (ed) Measurement and analysis of crime and justice. National Institute of Justice, Washington, DC, pp 85–138 Google Scholar Federal Bureau of Investigation (2004) Uniform crime reporting handbook. FBI, Washington, DC. http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/additional-ucr-publications/ucr_handbook.pdf. Retrieved 4 Feb 2012 Federal Bureau of Investigation (2011) Cargo theft electronic data submission specifications. http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/Cargo_Theft_Elec_Submission_Specs_2011.pdf. Retrieved 4 Feb 2012 Federal Bureau of Investigation (2012) Revised rape definition announced for uniform crime reporting program. http://www.fbi.gov/news/news_blog/revised-rape-definition-approved-for-uniform-crime-reporting-program. Retrieved 4 Feb 2012 Federal Bureau of Investigation (n.d.) UCR general FAQS. http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/frequently-asked-questions/ucr_faqs. Retrieved 4 Feb 2012 International Association of Chiefs of Police (1929) Uniform crime reporting: a complete manual for police, 2nd edn. J.J. Little ‖ Ives, New York Google Scholar Justice Research and Statistics Association (n.d.) Status of NIBRS in the states. IBR Resource Center, http://www.jrsa.org/ibrrc/background-status/nibrs_states.shtml. Retrieved 12 Feb 2013 Lynch JP (1990) The current and future national crime survey. In: MacKenzie DL, Baunach PJ, Roberg RR (eds) Measuring crime: large-scale, long-range efforts. SUNY Press, Albany Google Scholar Lynch JP, Addington LA (2007a) Understanding crime statistics: revisiting the divergence of the NCVS and the UCR. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge Google Scholar Lynch JP, Addington LA (2007b) Conclusion. In: Lynch JP, Addington LA (eds) Understanding crime statistics: revisiting the divergence of the NCVS and the UCR. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 297–334 Google Scholar Maltz MD (1977) Crime statistics: a historical perspective. Crime Delinq 23:32–40 Google Scholar National Research Council (2008) Surveying victims. National Academies Press, Washington, DC Google Scholar Poggio EC, Kennedy SD, Chaiken JM, Carlson KE (1985) Blueprint for the future of the uniform crime reporting program: final report of the UCR study. U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC Google Scholar President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice (1967) Task force report: crime and its impact – an assessment. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC Google Scholar Rennison CM, Rand M (2007) Introduction to the national crime victimization survey. In: Lynch JP, Addington LA (eds) Understanding crime statistics: revisiting the divergence of the NCVS and the UCR. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge Google Scholar Rosen L (1995) The creation of the uniform crime report. Soc Sci Hist 19:215–238 Google Scholar Rosenfeld R (2011) The big picture: 2010 presidential address to the American society of criminology. Criminology 49:1–26 Google Scholar Download references Author informationAuthors and Affiliations
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Corresponding authorCorrespondence to Lynn A. Addington . Editor informationEditors and Affiliations
Rights and permissionsReprints and Permissions Copyright information© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York About this entryCite this entryAddington, L.A. (2014). Development of the UCR and the NCVS. In: Bruinsma, G., Weisburd, D. (eds) Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5690-2_251 What is the difference between the UCR and NCVS?The UCR includes murder, nonnegligent manslaughter, and commercial crimes (including burglary of commercial establishments), while the NCVS excludes those crime types. The UCR property crime rates are per person, while the NCVS's are per household.
What is the advantage of the NCVS?The NCVS gives us an opportunity to understand specific criminal trends that might be happening in society. It gathers information from households about their age, race, gender, and drug or alcohol abuse.
What shortcoming in the UCR is addressed by the NCVS?The UCR includes, but the NCVS excludes, homicide, arson, commercial crimes, and crimes against children under age 12. The UCR captures crimes reported to law enforcement but collects only arrest data for simple assault and sex offenses other than forcible rape.
What is a weakness of the NCVS?There may be over-reporting by victims or underreporting due to fear or the victims forgetting information over time. Also, there are always design flaws with the survey, possible misunderstanding by the survey taker, and sampling errors. The NCVS is also limited by budget since it is government funded.
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