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) It is not difficult to track the crime rate over time.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The way crimes are defined can change over time, making it difficult to compare crime rates from different eras. This can be due to changes in laws, policing practices, or social attitudes towards certain behaviors. Additionally, there may be discrepancies in reporting or recording of crime data, which can further complicate efforts to track crime rates over time. While it is true that some crimes may go unreported, this is not the only factor that makes tracking crime rates over time difficult. Likewise, while data on criminal activity prior to 1990 may be incomplete, this is not the main reason for the challenge of measuring crime trends over time.

Why Is It So Difficult to Track the Crime Rate