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Criminology and Justice: Statistics

Criminology statistics

How to Find Statistics

Identify where to search

Start by identifying organisations that might be collecting the types of data you are looking for.​

  • Governments - Most statistics are collected by national and subnational government agencies, e.g. the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Office for National Statistics (UK).
  • International organisations - Organisations and institutions such as the World Bank, the United Nations, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) collect and collate statistics from different countries.
  • National organisations - Many national organisations and research bodies collect statistics on particular areas of interest, e.g. the Australian Council for Educational Research, Diabetes Australia.
  • Professional associations - Some professional bodies conduct research and publish survey findings, e.g. the Australian Institute of Management.

Note of caution: 

International statistics are dependent on the collection of data by national governments and other agencies, so the types, depth and dates of data are not always consistent between countries.

Collection of data within individual countries

  • changes over time,
  • may be inconsistent across states,
  • and can be disrupted by events such as regime change and war.
Where to Find Statistics?

Statistics can be found in a number of different sources including books, databases, reports, journal articles, and government websites.

To search for information, add the word "statistics" to the subject keywords you are using e.g. robbery Australia statistics. 

You can begin your search in ECU Worldsearch and there a number of key sources for statistics listed here. 

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5) 

This is the standard classification of mental disorders used by mental health professionals in the U.S. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5) is the product of more than 10 years of effort by hundreds of international experts in all aspects of mental health. Their dedication and hard work have yielded an authoritative volume that defines and classifies mental disorders in order to improve diagnoses, treatment, and research.

Collecting Your Own Statistics

Software

Fake Stats!

Mona Chalabi: 3 Ways to spot a bad statistic. Click here for Interactive Transcript.

Anne Milgram: Why smart statistics are the key to fighting crime. Click here for Interactive Transcript.

Peter Donnelly: How juries are fooled by statistics. Click here for Interactive Transcript.