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Ethnicity and the British Crime Survey: Issues, Obstacles and Solutions

NCJ Number
235593
Journal
Howard Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 50 Issue: 3 Dated: July 2011 Pages: 275-288
Author(s)
Paula M. Kautt
Date Published
July 2011
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This article describes the British Crime Survey data to capture ethnicity in crime-related experiences.
Abstract
British Crime Survey (BCS) data have been used to examine a broad range of criminological questions. Yet, few studies employ them to examine ethnic variation in criminological experiences (or the factors influencing them), particularly between Black and minority ethnicities (BMEs). Perhaps this is because there are several methodological obstacles associated with doing so. This article outlines a number of issues encountered in attempts to assess how BCS-reported experiences and perceptions vary by respondent ethnicity, describing some analytical solutions as well as their limitations. Suggestions for more usefully capturing ethnicity without adding to BCS length are discussed. (Published Abstract)