Crime Statistics, Research Paper Example

There are a number of different informative and reliable sources of crime data. Many of these can now be accessed by the Public over the internet.  Amongst the most informative of these sources are that of the United Nations Surveys of Crime and Trends and operations of criminal justice systems (UNCJS). This site has one of the most comprehensive sources of reference available on the net.  (United Nations, 2011).

The ease of navigation and ability to drill down to other information within this extensive UN database is excellent.  Most of the information provided seems to be extremely reliable and factual sources of information that appear free from political bias. This is a big plus compared to other sites that tend to be more directed towards political agendas.  The webpage has a site map that enables you to explore an extensive reference library of materials and is supported by the ability to conduct searches for specific information on the site.  The real plus about this site is the ability to obtain the ‘global picture’ on any specific type of criminal behaviour. For example, you may access the subject of Drug Trafficking from the home page and this will direct you to a specialist page providing easy to understand information on the subject matter.  Links on the left of the page will then enable you to refine your search to specific countries e.g. Mexico.  You may then read a regional focus report on the entire drug operations within Mexico.  This can be very powerful when used in collaboration of other sites like the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) in the USA.  This along with other FBI information providing links to the US Criminal Justice System. (FBI, 2010).

Another extremely useful site is that relating to INTERPOL and international crime that is focused upon the European theatre of operations but has wide reaching collaboration with agencies like the FBI and varying intelligence agencies of different countries that collaborate on such items as terrorism and drug trafficking.  (Interpol, 2011).

Works Cited

FBI. (2010). Uniform Crime Report. Retrieved 7 26, 2011, from FBI: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/ucr

Interpol. (2011). Interpol. Retrieved 7 25, 2011, from Interpol: http://www.interpol.int/

United Nations. (2011). United Nations Surveys on Crime Trends and the Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (CTS) . Retrieved 7 26, 2011, from United Nations: http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/United-Nations-Surveys-on-Crime-Trends-and-the-Operations-of-Criminal-Justice-Systems.html