UCR vs. NCVS

UCR vs. NCVS

UCR vs. NCVS

Introduction

The U.S. Justice Department administers two statistical programs to measure the magnitude, nature and effects of crime in the Nation: the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) and the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). Each of these programs produces valuable information about aspects of the problem of crime in the nation. Because the UCR and NCVS programs are conducted for different purposes using different methods, and focus on somewhat different aspects of crime, the information they produce together provides a broader picture of the problem of crime in the nation that anyone could produce alone.

Discussion and Analysis

Because the BJS designed the NCVS to complement the UCR Program, the two programs share many similarities. As well as their different collection methods permit, as of two the same subset of serious crimes, defined alike. Both programs include rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft. Rape, robbery, burglary and motor vehicle theft are defined virtually identically by both the UCR and NCVS. (Lynch and Addington, 2007)

There are also significant differences between the two programs. First, the two programs were created to serve different purposes. The main objective of the UCR Program is to provide a reliable set of criminal justice statistics for the administration of law enforcement, operation and management. The BJS established the NCVS to provide previously available information on the crime (including crime not reported to police), victims and offenders (Cohen, 1985).

Secondly, the two programs measure an overlapping set, but not identical to the crimes. The NCVS includes crimes both reported and not reported to police. The NCVS excludes, but the UCR includes, homicide, arson, commercial crimes, and crimes against children under 12 years. The UCR captures crimes reported to the police, but only collects unemployment data simple assaults and sexual assaults other than ...