Women, Crime and Statistics

Differences between societies in their approaches to understanding crime and punishment are evident, particularly with respect to differing definitions and motives. However, there is always a need to measure crime rates within these societies in order to understand the types of crimes being committed. In addition to determining what crimes are occurring, and their seriousness, there is a need to establish a valid mechanism for dealing with deviant behavior on the one hand, and with the social perceptions of deviance and crime on the other.