CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH: METHODS
Those interested in the study of criminology and criminal justice have at their disposal a wide
range of research methods. The particular research method to use is entirely contingent upon
the question being studied. Research questions typically fall into four categories of: (1)
descriptive, (2) exploratory, (3) explanatory, and (4) evaluative (Schutt). Descriptive research
attempts to define and describe the social phenomena under investigation. Exploratory
research seeks to identify the underlying meaning behind actions and individual behavior.
Explanatory research seeks to identify the cause(s) and effect(s) of social phenomena.
Evaluation research seeks to determine the effects of an intervention on individual behavior.
These four areas of research are not mutually exclusive; rather, they are designed to be used
interactively in order to gain a deeper understanding of the question under investigation.
http://www.encyclopedia.com/law/legal-and-political-magazines/criminology-and-criminal-justice-research-methods
HIERARCHY RULE
There is a significance to the order in which the Part I offenses are presented, with criminal homicide being the highest in the hierarchy and arson being the lowest. The Part I offenses are as follows:
1. Criminal Homicide a. Murder and Nonnegligent Manslaughter b. Manslaughter by Negligence
2. Forcible Rape
a. Rape by Force b. Attempts to Commit Forcible Rape
CRJ 105 – Crime and Criminal Behavior
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3. Robbery a. Firearm b. Knife or Cutting Instrument c. Other Dangerous Weapon d. Strong-arm—Hands, Fists, Feet, etc.
4. Aggravated Assault
a. Firearm b. Knife or Cutting Instrument c. Other Dangerous Weapon d. Hands, Fists, Feet, etc.—Aggravated Injury
5. Burglary
a. Forcible Entry b. Unlawful Entry—No Force c. Attempted Forcible Entry
6. Larceny-theft (except motor vehicle theft) 7. Motor Vehicle Theft
a. Autos b. Trucks and Buses c. Other Vehicles
8. Arson
The experience of law enforcement agencies in handling UCR data shows that, for the most part, offenses of law occur singly as opposed to many being committed simultaneously. In these single-offense situations, law enforcement agencies must decide whether the crime is a Part I offense. If so, the agency must score the crime accordingly. However, if several offenses are committed at the same time and place by a person or a group of persons, a different approach must be used in classifying and scoring. The law enforcement matter in which many crimes are committed simultaneously is called a multiple-offense situation by the UCR Program. As a general rule, a multiple-offense situation requires classifying each of the offenses occurring and determining which of them are Part I crimes. The Hierarchy Rule requires that when more than one Part I offense is classified, the law enforcement agency must locate the offense that is highest on the hierarchy list and score that offense involved and not the other offense(s) in the multiple-offense situation.
The Hierarchy Rule applies only to crime reporting and does not affect the number of charges for which the defendant may be prosecuted in the courts. The offenses of justifiable homicide, motor vehicle theft, and arson are exceptions to the Hierarchy Rule.