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Aggregation Effects on Male-to-Female Arrest Rate Ratios in New York State, 1972 to 1984

NCJ Number
113901
Journal
Journal of Quantitative Criminology Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1988) Pages: 121-135
Author(s)
M Farnworth; M J McDermott; S E Zimmerman
Date Published
1988
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Data about arrests in New York State formed the basis of an assessment of the effects of data aggregation on a specification of the relationship between sex and arrest rate trends.
Abstract
The analysis focused on the empirical implications when arrest data are aggregated across dimensions that are likely to affect the sex-crime relationship. The data for the analysis consisted of 4,119,358 male and female adult arrests in New York State for the 13-year period ending in 1984. Results indicated that race, regional differences, and the legal seriousness of the arrest charge produce significantly different patterns of sex convergence across time. The findings indicate serious limitations in past analyses of female crime rates and in the value of Uniform Crime Report data for addressing theoretically relevant questions concerning the social correlates of official crime. Figures, tables, and 25 references. (Author abstract modified)