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Professor honored with Phillip Hoke Award for article on crime statistics

Morgantown, WV, November 6, 2006: An Eberly College professor has been honored by the Justice Research & Statistics Association for an article about ensuring the accuracy of crime statistics in West Virginia.

Dr. James Nolan, an associate professor in the Division of Sociology and Anthropology in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, was recognized with the Phillip Hoke Award for his article titled “Establishing the Statistical Accuracy of Uniform Crime Reports in West Virginia.” He wrote the article with personnel from the WV Statistical Analysis Center.

According to Nolan and his colleagues, few studies have assessed the amount of error found in crime totals due to the miscalculation of crime types on the part of law enforcement officers and agencies. Of the 31,084 crimes in the population studied, 1,297 were found to contain a classification error. Nolan anticipates that his study will lead state and federal government agencies to understand classification error and its consequences for crime reporting and that this will have notable implications for the future of the UCR programs.

The Justice Research and Statistics Association (JRSA) is a national nonprofit association of analysts, researchers, and practitioners throughout the justice system dedicated to providing accurate and timely information in support of sound policy development. Created in 1974 by the Statistical Analysis Centers (SACs), the state agencies responsible for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating justice data, JRSA works closely with the Bureau of Justice Statistics and other federal agencies to promote the effective use of criminal and juvenile justice information. Directors of the state SACs are the voting members of the association.

The Phillip Hoke Award recognizes outstanding publications by state Statistical Analysis Centers. JRSA presents the award an SAC that has demonstrated excellence in translating statistics and research into publications that inform policy.

The Hoke Award was established in 1986. The following year it was named in memory of Phillip Hoke, who became the first Louisiana SAC director in 1972. He was a founder of JRSA (then called the Criminal Justice Statistics Association), and served as the vice president and president of the association. Phillip Hoke brought technological expertise to the SAC. He merged operations with analysis and set an example for his colleagues to live up to in his concern for developing useful and high quality reports.

For more information, please contact Nolan at jim.nolan@mail.wvu.edu or at 304-293-5801, ext. 3210.

W-V-U

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	NEWS Professor honored with Phillip Hoke Award for article on crime statistics Morgantown, WV, November 6, 2006: An Eberly College professor has been honored by the Justice Research & Statistics Association for an article about ensuring the accuracy of crime statistics in West Virginia. Dr. James Nolan, an associate professor in the Division of Sociology and Anthropology in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, was recognized with the Phillip Hoke Award for his article titled “Establishing the Statistical Accuracy of Uniform Crime Reports in West Virginia.” He wrote the article with personnel from the WV Statistical Analysis Center. According to Nolan and his colleagues, few studies have assessed the amount of error found in crime totals due to the miscalculation of crime types on the part of law enforcement officers and agencies. Of the 31,084 crimes in the population studied, 1,297 were found to contain a classification error. Nolan anticipates that his study will lead state and federal government agencies to understand classification error and its consequences for crime reporting and that this will have notable implications for the future of the UCR programs. The Justice Research and Statistics Association (JRSA) is a national nonprofit association of analysts, researchers, and practitioners throughout the justice system dedicated to providing accurate and timely information in support of sound policy development. Created in 1974 by the Statistical Analysis Centers (SACs), the state agencies responsible for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating justice data, JRSA works closely with the Bureau of Justice Statistics and other federal agencies to promote the effective use of criminal and juvenile justice information. Directors of the state SACs are the voting members of the association. The Phillip Hoke Award recognizes outstanding publications by state Statistical Analysis Centers. JRSA presents the award an SAC that has demonstrated excellence in translating statistics and research into publications that inform policy. The Hoke Award was established in 1986. The following year it was named in memory of Phillip Hoke, who became the first Louisiana SAC director in 1972. He was a founder of JRSA (then called the Criminal Justice Statistics Association), and served as the vice president and president of the association. Phillip Hoke brought technological expertise to the SAC. He merged operations with analysis and set an example for his colleagues to live up to in his concern for developing useful and high quality reports. For more information, please contact Nolan at jim.nolan@mail.wvu.edu or at 304-293-5801, ext. 3210. W-V-U