Criminal Justice: Data/Stats

Statistics are helpful in many ways, in addition to enhancing one's understanding of a subject, statistics can provide persuasive evidence for a point of view. You can find statistics on just about any topic, but it helps to first ask yourself some critical questions about the data you're seeking:

• What group or organization would be producing such statistics?
• Why would they need the data and how would they acquire it?
• Would they have the means and incentive to publish it?
• Would they be required to report the information to a government agency and which one?

In other words, it's helpful to consider where you might reasonably expect to find the data - this can save you hours of fruitless searching.