SOURCE
UNICRI (United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute). 2002. Correspondence on data on crime victims. March. Turin
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del.icio.us| COMMENTARY |
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Cameron Dewe (New Zealand) 3rd December 2006 |
Comparing international crime victim statistics must be done with great caution. Statistics compiled by the United Nations are based on surveys that specify that crimes be counted based on each country's interpretation of what constitute a "crime victim". Some countries may include victims of misdemeanor offences, where a fine is issued while others may only count imprisionable offences. Also, how counting the victims takes place may affect the statistics. Some countries may survey the population to identify the number of crime victims, while others may rely on victims reporting a breach of the law, or only count cases that make it to court, and even then count just the most seriously affected victim. How the statistics are compiled could greatly affect the statistics. Population surveys may detect unreported victims, while crime reports may not count those victims that do not come forward, even if the crime is reported. Because there is so much inconsistency in these statistics, they might also be a quality measure of the standard and efficiency of law enforcement and the criminal justice system of a country, rather than having anything to do with actual prevalence of crime and victimisation. |
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