Why is it so difficult to track the crime rate over time?
A) Most crimes are unreported.
B) We lack good data on criminal activity prior to 1990.
C) The way particular crimes are defined changes over time.
D) Sociologists and criminologists do not use common methodologies.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The way particular crimes are defined changes over time, making it difficult to compare crime rates over different periods. For example, what was considered domestic violence or hate crime has evolved and expanded over time, thus altering the number of incidents reported.

Why Is It So Difficult to Track the Crime Rate