FCC Research Guides: Criminal Justice: Criminology Resources

Crime Statistics and Reports

Bureau of Justice Statistics- Crime Reports
One of the best places for crime stats and reports. Provides data for everything related to crime and the justice system.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Provides access to Crime in the United States, an annual publication from the FBI that "compiles volume and rate of crime offenses for the nation, the states, and individual agencies."
Statistical Abstract of the United States: Law Enforcement Statistics
Great source for US statistics related to the fields of law enforcement and crime.
National Criminal Justice Reference Service
Provides background on crime topics, journal articles (not all for free), statistics, and reports. Lots of great information, but can be confusing to navigate.

FCC Library Resources for Exploring Your Criminology Issue

Gale Virtual Reference Library ("Gale Ebooks") This link opens in a new window
The Library's Wikipedia! Search a number of specialized encyclopedias in biography, law, business, substance abuse, multiculturalism, education and more.
CQ Researcher This link opens in a new window
Overviews of current controversies in public policy.
Issues and Controversies This link opens in a new window
Overviews of controversial issues with arguments and counter arguments for each issue. Recommend browsing issues rather than searching.

Public Agenda
A nonprofit, nonpartisan research and citizen education resource, founded by social scientist, Daniel Yankelovich and former Secretary of State Cyrus Vance. Includes statistics, results of polls, policy proposals, and much more.
Wikipedia
Great source for finding background information. Power Search Tip: Use the references at the bottom of a wiki article to find even better sources.

Find Others' Work on Your Criminology Topic to Evaluate

Academic Search Premier (EBSCO) This link opens in a new window
Thousands of full-text general, education, medical, and business articles and documents. TO LIMIT TO SCHOLARLY ARTICLES CHECK THE "Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals" BOX.
CQ Researcher This link opens in a new window
Overviews of current controversies in public policy.
Gale Opposing ViewPoints in Context This link opens in a new window
Arguments and position papers on both sides of a controversial issue.
PsycARTICLES (EBSCO) This link opens in a new window
Scholarly Peer-Reviewed articles in Psychology. TO LIMIT TO SCHOLARLY ARTICLES CHECK THE "Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals" BOX.

Google Scholar
WARNING: Many of the articles found in a Google Scholar do not include full-text articles without payment. Look for a short link to the right of the main result link. If there is a short link the article may be available for free. NEVER PAY for an article.
Public Agenda
A nonprofit, nonpartisan research and citizen education resource, founded by social scientist, Daniel Yankelovich and former Secretary of State Cyrus Vance. Includes statistics, results of polls, policy proposals, and much more.

Find News Articles About Your Criminology Topic

National Newspapers (ProQuest) This link opens in a new window
Full-text articles from The Christian Science Monitor, the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and the Baltimore Sun newspapers starting in 1970 to the present.
Academic Search Premier (EBSCO) This link opens in a new window
Thousands of full-text general, education, medical, and business articles and documents. TO LIMIT TO SCHOLARLY ARTICLES CHECK THE "Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals" BOX.

Search for Government Documents About Criminology

USA.gov can find Government documents that might be hidden from Google:

USA.gov
Search Federal, State, and Local Government documents and websites all in one search!

Find Books about Your Criminology Topic

Books will often allow you to explore your topic and contain others work for you to evaluate.

For best results do a search on your crime.

Examples: gun control, sexual assault, cybercrime, etc.

If an item is labeled an "Electronic Book," use the "click to view" link to access it.

Great Source Alert!

Key Reference Books

Found on the Key Reference Shelf in the Library.

These volumes provide subject overviews and opposing viewpoints on certain aspects of dozens of controversial issues. Great place to see what kinds of questions are being discussed about a topic and how those questions are being answered.

Find Better Web Resources about Criminology with Google

Type your search into Google and add the site: command to limit the search to certain domains

site:.edu
site:.gov
site:.org

Tip for finding social organizations working to solve a problem:

Type the name of the problem
Add site:.org to the search box
Click Search

Tip for finding government policies:

Type your search keywords
Add the word policy
Add site:.gov
Click Search

Try it Below!