Comparing Methods for Measuring Crime Harm/Severity

Ashby, Matthew P J

doi:10.1093/police/pax049

Cited by 28 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…The type of crime is directly relevant because each crime type is associated with sentencing guidelines for judges in the CCC and suggested sentence length increases with crime severity (CCC, 1985). The type of crime and associated sentencing guidelines are commonly used as a proxy for measuring the harm caused by different types of crime and the associated impact felt by the victim (see Ashby, 2018; Sherman et al, 2016).…”

Section: Factors Related To Vissmentioning

confidence: 99%

The relationship between victim impact statements and judicial decision making: An archival analysis of sentencing outcomes.

Dufour,

Ternes,

Stinson

2023

Law and Human Behavior

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Objective: Victim impact statements (VISs) are testimonies that convey the emotional, physical, and financial harm that victims have suffered as the result of a crime. Although VISs are often presented to the court at sentencing, it is unclear whether they impact judicial decisions regarding sentencing. Hypotheses: We did not have any formal a priori hypothesis but instead examined five research questions. The first two explored whether the relationship between the victim and the offender, as well as the type of crime, was associated with differences in the likelihood of VIS submission. The following two explored whether the presence of a VIS was associated with differences in sentencing outcomes (incarceration, probation, ancillary orders, parole eligibility). The final research question explored whether the number of VISs and the delivery format (oral vs. written) was associated with differences in sentencing outcomes. Method: We coded and analyzed 1,332 sentencing rulings across Canada from 2016 to 2018 that included the phrase “impact statement.” We coded for 87 variables, including information about the VIS, the victims and offenders, crime type, and sentencing outcomes. Results: Overall, VISs are more likely to be delivered in cases in which the crime is more severe. Once we controlled for the type of crime, sentencing outcomes were unrelated to the presence of VISs. Sentences were longer when VISs were delivered orally than in written format and when more than one statement was submitted. Conclusions: The relationship between VISs and sentencing outcomes is closely tied to several extralegal factors and should be investigated further. This research offers insight into the mechanics of victim evidence at sentencing. The findings of this study have implications for lawyers, researchers, judges, victims, offenders, and other stakeholders in our legal systems.

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Section: Factors Related To Vissmentioning

confidence: 99%

The relationship between victim impact statements and judicial decision making: An archival analysis of sentencing outcomes.

Dufour,

Ternes,

Stinson

2023

Law and Human Behavior

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“…Nevertheless, Van Ruitenburg and Ruiter (2023) also pointed out methodological and implementation challenges. Indeed, a sentencing index cannot account for the varying “harm” experienced by a victim or the wider community, as the index observes the level of harm committed against the state (Paoli et al ., 2013; Linehan, 2016; Ashby, 2018; Šimon and Jíchová, 2020). Moreover, the crime harm index fails to account for non-crime incidents, antisocial behaviour and physical disorder, which are not always recordable (or recorded) crimes but are also known to have an effect on the community where they occur (Ariel et al.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crime on the mass transit system in Hong Kong: a hotspots and harmspots trajectory approach

Ng,

Ariel,

Harinam

2023

PIJPSM

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PurposeA growing body of literature focuses on crime hotspots; however, less is known about the spatial distribution of crime at mass transit systems, and even less is known about trajectory patterns of hotspots in non-English-speaking countries.Design/methodology/approachThe spatiotemporal behaviour of 1,494 crimes reported to the Hong Kong’s Railway Police District across a two-year period was examined in this study. Crime harm weights were then applied to offences to estimate the distribution of crime severity across the transit system. Descriptive statistics are used to understand the temporal and spatial trends, and k-means longitudinal clustering are used to examine the developmental trajectories of crime in train stations over time.FindingsAnalyses suggest that 15.2% and 8.8% of stations accounted for 50% of all counted crime and crime harm scores, respectively, indicating the predictability of crime and harm to occur at certain stations but not others. Offending persists consistently, with low, moderate and high counts and harm stations remaining the same over time.Research limitations/implicationsThese findings suggest that more localised crime control initiatives are required to target crime effectively.Originality/valueThis is one of the only studies focusing on hotspots and harmspots in the mass transit system.

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“…Both the CHI and the ONS's CSS have strengths and weaknesses (Ashby 2018). In the analyses presented in this report we utilise the ONS CSS, primarily because it is recorded in Cumbria Constabulary's recording system.…”

Section: Characteristics Of Victims and Offendersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the Geospatial and Contextual Patterns of Rural Domestic Abuse: An Exploratory Study

S.,

D.,

S.K.

et al. 2023

CrimRxiv

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A woman was reporting controlling and coercive behaviour from her husband … The mental health practitioner had assessed him … about his capacity … because … he had significant mental health problems … similar to Alzheimer's, in terms of he doesn't really know what's going on.' (PC7) 'A lot of older victims … come when their partner has died, and they say "he has abused me for 50 years"… But their attitude is very much "I made my bed, I have to lie in it."' (DA4) '… older people as well, women in their 70s, who are just finding out that there is support. They have been married for 50 plus years, and they're reaching out for the first time.' (DA9) The particular difficulties faced by this hard-to-reach group underscore the need for areas to develop a bespoke, multi-agency response for older victims of IPA.Rural victims: Throughout the interviews, the problems caused by living in rural areas were a recurring theme. Practitioners noted the safety implications of experiencing IPA whilst living in remote areas, and how difficulties with (for example) the transport infrastructure and internet connection could impede service access. One response might be to provide outreach services in rural areas. As one interviewee noted, however, the nature of small-town life means that some women prefer to receive support away from home:'A lot of older victims … come when their partner has died, and they say "he has abused me for 50 years"… But their attitude is very much "I made my bed, I have to lie in it."' (DA4) '… older people as well, women in their 70s, who are just finding out that there is support. They have been married for 50 plus years, and they're reaching out for the first time.' (DA9)Research suggests that living in rural areas presents challenges for older victims (Roberto and McCann 2018) and those experiencing IPA generally. It is to this issue that we now turn. Rural victimsThroughout the interviews, the impact of rurality was a recurring theme. Practitioners noted the safety implications for victims living in rural isolation: 'There's no one else to keep an eye out for you… GPS and phone signals in rural areas are not great, in Cumbria anyway. It makes it twice as difficult to arrange support phone calls or reach out to support services.' (DA5) Rural isolation may afford perpetrators additional logics and levers of control, as the following remarks illustrate: 'I have a client and her ex-partner used to say, "there's no-one around, why are you doing your make up? Who are you trying to impress? Is there a certain someone you're trying to impress? Because no-one lives around here.' (DA3) 'Perpetrators are able to isolate their victims over a period of time and make sure family ties are severed … and it is even worse if they are living in the middle of nowhere.' (DA7)

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Comparing Methods for Measuring Crime Harm/Severity

Cited by 28 publications

References 19 publications

The relationship between victim impact statements and judicial decision making: An archival analysis of sentencing outcomes.

The relationship between victim impact statements and judicial decision making: An archival analysis of sentencing outcomes.

Crime on the mass transit system in Hong Kong: a hotspots and harmspots trajectory approach

Understanding the Geospatial and Contextual Patterns of Rural Domestic Abuse: An Exploratory Study

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