Virtually everything known about crime and criminal justice is generated from data analysis and research. Data analysis and research are used in law enforcement to determine the most effective strategies for combating crime, in the court system to examine the effects of sentencing, and in the correctional system to develop new ways to reduce recidivism. Regardless of the part of the criminal justice system in which you are currently involved or will become involved, you must understand and become familiar with the resources and strategies for this analysis to aid in planning and decision making. The two main sources of crime and victimology data in the United States are the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) and the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) databases. For this Assessment, you will analyze the data and associated reports for crime trends. You will also examine the strengths and weaknesses of these data sources and consider conclusions based on the data within the context of data, research, and theory from other professional and scholarly resources. The Assessment: (Complete using template/rubric provided.) Examine the past 10 years of crime data in the UCR and the NCVS located in the Learning Resources. Identify three crime trends from the data (2–4 paragraphs). What are the strengths and weaknesses of each data source (the UCR and NCVS databases)? Consider their accuracy, coverage, applicability, collection methods, and any other characteristic you think is important to consider. Explain at least two strengths and two weaknesses of the databases (2–3 paragraphs). What criminological explanations for your identified crime trends can be derived from the UCR and/or NCVS databases? Describe at least two. Then provide an argument for other factors and variables (biological, social, structural, economic, etc.) that cause or influence your identified crime trends that are not present in the UCR/NCVS data. Reference theoretical and scholarly resources that support your criminological explanations (3–5 paragraphs). Learning Resources Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus. Required Readings Database: Bureau of Justice Statistics. (n.d.). Data collection: National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). Retrieved March 5, 2018, from https://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=dcdetail&iid=245 Note: You will use this resource as part of the Assignment in Week 3. Database: Federal Bureau of Investigation. (n.d.). Uniform Crime Reporting. Retrieved March 5, 2018, from https://ucr.fbi.gov/ Note: You will use this resource as part of the Assignment in Week 3. Krajicek, D. J. (2014, March 31). Can we trust crime numbers? The Crime Report. Retrieved from https://thecrimereport.org/2014/03/31/2014-03-can-we-trust-crime-numbers/ Patten, D. J. (2015). An unfinished journey: The evolution of crime measurement in the United States. The Hilltop Review, 8(1). Retrieved from http://scholarworks.wmich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1149&context=hilltopreview Planty, M., Langton, L., & Barnett-Ryan, C. (2014). The nation’s two crime measures. Bureau Justice Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/ntcm_2014.pdf Walsh, A., & Jorgensen, C. (2017). Criminology: The essentials (3rd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. Chapter 6, “Social Structural Theories,” pp. 100–120 Criminology: The Essentials, 3rd Edition by Walsh, A.; Jorgensen, C. Copyright 2017 by Sage College. Reprinted by permission of Sage College via the Copyright Clearance Center. Walsh, A., & Jorgensen, C. (2017). Criminology: The essentials (3rd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. Chapter 10, “Biosocial Approaches,” pp. 182–202 Criminology: The Essentials, 3rd Edition by Walsh, A.; Jorgensen, C. Copyright 2017 by Sage College. Reprinted by permission of Sage College via the Copyright Clearance Center. Walsh, A., & Jorgensen, C. (2017). Criminology: The essentials (3rd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. Chapter 11, “Developmental Theories: From Delinquency to Crime to Desistance” pp. 203–222 Criminology: The Essentials, 3rd Edition by Walsh, A.; Jorgensen, C. Copyright 2017 by Sage College. Reprinted by permission of Sage College via the Copyright Clearance Center. Rubio, J. S., Krieger, M. A., Finney, E. J., & Coker, K. L. (2014). A review of the relationship between sociocultural factors and juvenile psychopathy. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 19(1), 23–31. Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases. Criminal Justice Research. (n.d.). Ethnic differences in psychopathy. Retrieved from http://criminal-justice.iresearchnet.com/forensic-psychology/ethnic-differences-in-psychopathy/ Fox, B. (2017).?It's nature and nurture: Integrating biology and genetics into the social learning theory of criminal behavior.?Journal of Criminal Justice, 49(1), 22–31. Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases. Rocque, M., & Posick, C. (2017). Paradigm shift or normal science? The future of (biosocial) criminology. Theoretical Criminology, 21(3) 288–303. Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases. Palmer, B. (2013, March 8). Is criminality genetic??The family that preys together…. Retrieved from?http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/explainer/2013/03/osama_bin_laden_son_in_law_does_criminality_run_in_families.html Document: Week 3 Template (Word document) Required Media TED. (2013, October). Why smart statistics are the key to fighting crime [Video]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/anne_milgram_why_smart_statistics_are_the_key_to_fighting_crime