CRM 1300 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Homicide, Embezzlement, Academic Journal
Document Summary
A relationship/association between two variables the relationship should not be assumed to be causal. A correlation is a good first starting point as the basis to develop and test theory. For the testing of theory, there is a need to triangulate data sources, and discount plausible alternative explanations (i. e. , control for competing independent variables) Property crime is especially prevalent amongst the young. The age range of persons accused of violent crime is much wider: the official data indicate that in 2001, the peak age of offending among all offenders for both violent and property crimes was 16. Those aged 15 to 24 represented 14% of the population while accounting for 46% of those charged with property crimes and 31% of persons charged with violent crimes. Juvenile diversion programs and hesitancy to formally process adolescents through the criminal justice system may play some role in explaining the higher peak ages in official data on arrests and convictions.