Question 1.
Compare and contrast the UCR and NCVS as sources of information about delinquency and crime. The NCVS is clearly better positioned to measure the dark figure (dark horse) of crime, or crime that goes unmeasured in official reporting statistics. Identify and evaluate at least two substantive changes to the NCVS that you would consider as helpful in increasing reporting and reducing the dark figure of crime. Be sure and consider any negative consequences or ramifications of the changes you suggest. Changes can be to the reporting methodology, collection techniques, sampling, items measured, and still other things.
Question 2.
Theories of crime are broad in scope and have varying amounts of evidentiary support in the literature. Evaluate the strengths and limitations of two psychological explanations of crime and explain which would be better at examining juvenile gang membership. Then, evaluate the strengths and limitations of two sociological explanations of crime and explain which would be better at examining juvenile gang membership. Broadly, which of these explanations is the most persuasive to you in terms of evidence provided? Consider another type of delinquency of your choosing which you believe best represents the theory you found most persuasive. In other words, what would the perfect example case be for this theory to demonstrate it works?
