In Module 1, you learned primary sources of crime data and crime trends. In the week 1 writing assignment, you will look at official crime data collected by the FBI. First, using the Internet, search for "crime in the United States 2019". One of the first listed websites should be the FBI's website (ucr.fbi.gov). Alternatively, you can just copy and paste the aforementioned URL into your browser. Click on "UCR Publications page." Next, click on the year 2019 under "Crime in the United States " Because murder is the best crime to use when comparing data (Its definition is easily interpreted and universal, plus it is the most violent of all the violent crimes.), we will stick to homicide data.. Therefore, click on "violent crimes" then under browse by offense, click on "murder". Then proceed to "Table 8" (listed off to the right-hand side of the page). Under table 8, you will see a listing of states. Choose the state you were born in (if you were not born in the US, you may pick any state you wish!) Then, choose a city in that state which begins with the same letter as the first letter of your last name (so, since my last name is "Shay", I could choose the city Steubenville, Ohio). If there is no city that begins with the first letter of your last name, then move to the second letter, and so on until you have a city. Then, answer ALL of the following questions:
1 - Tell me the state and city you are investigating. What is the population of your city? How many violent crimes were committed in 2019? How many murders were committed in 2019?
2 - Now calculate the violent crime rate and the murder rate: (# of crimes or murders/population) x 100,000, What is the violent crime rate and what is the murder rate for your city? What do these numbers mean, in words?
3 - How does the violent crime rate and murder rate of your city compare to the national violent crime rate of 366.7 per 100,000 and the national murder rate of 5.0 per 100,000?
4 — Based on the course material, what is your overall interpretation of these rates in the city of your choice? Why is it important to know this data based on what you have learned about criminology thus far?
Primary Source Of Crime Data And Crime Trends
State and city: Ohio, Steubenville
Population: 17,768
Violent crimes: 33
Murders: 3
Violent crime rate: 187.3 per 100,000
Murder rate: 16.9 per 100,000
Interpretation: The violent crime rate in Steubenville is higher than the national violent crime rate of 366.7 per 100,000. The murder rate in Steubenville is also higher than the national murder rate of 5.0 per 100,000.
Comparison to national rates:
- Violent crime rate: Steubenville's violent crime rate is 50.4% higher than the national violent crime rate.
- Murder rate: Steubenville's murder rate is 338% higher than the national murder rate.