Studies in Crime and Law Enforcement in Major Metropolitan Areas: Measurement of the nature and amount of crime. Public perceptions and recollections about crime, law enforcement, and criminal justice

Book excerpt: V. 1. Section I. This report looks at the current systems of crime reporting contain some misconceptions about simple rates such as a crude crime rate. Proposals made for more specific measures of crime, on the need to identify the exposed population for which crime rates are calculated, the desirability of obtaining specific rates for both victims and offenders, and the need for developing statistical programs that provide information for the calculation of such rates are discussed. Statistics are given by way of illustration. --