Crossnational comparisons of crime are usually based on two main types of sources: crime statistics and crime surveys. Provided they use the same questionnaire and the same methodology, crime surveys constitute the best source for comparisons. Comparisons based on surveys are described in other sections of this book. This chapter is devoted to crossnational comparisons based on official statistics, which include police, prosecution, conviction, and correctional statistics. Because these statistics measure the reaction to crime and not crime itself, comparisons based on them are usually called comparisons of recorded crime.
The chapter shows that, as a rule, the main part of the differences in recorded crime rates across countries can be explained by differences in how offences are defined, collected, and archived. It would be a mistake to assume that such differences are real – in other words, that they reflect actual differences in the level of crime from one country. The researcher must keep in mind that, in this particular context, the form is more important than the substance.
The chapter concludes that, with completed intentional homicide as a noteworthy exception, official statistics are usually inadequate for comparisons of crime levels across countries; but they can be useful for the study of crime trends.