A note on the use of county-level UCR data
MD Maltz, J Targonski - Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 2002 - Springer
MD Maltz, J Targonski
Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 2002•SpringerCounty-level crime data have major gaps, and the imputation schemes for filling in the gaps
are inadequate and inconsistent. Such data were used in a recent study of guns and crime
without considering the errors resulting from imputation. This note describes the errors and
how they may have affected this study. Until improved methods of imputing county-level
crime data are developed, tested, and implemented, they should not be used, especially in
policy studies.
are inadequate and inconsistent. Such data were used in a recent study of guns and crime
without considering the errors resulting from imputation. This note describes the errors and
how they may have affected this study. Until improved methods of imputing county-level
crime data are developed, tested, and implemented, they should not be used, especially in
policy studies.
Abstract
County-level crime data have major gaps, and the imputation schemes for filling in the gaps are inadequate and inconsistent. Such data were used in a recent study of guns and crime without considering the errors resulting from imputation. This note describes the errors and how they may have affected this study. Until improved methods of imputing county-level crime data are developed, tested, and implemented, they should not be used, especially in policy studies.
Springer