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Attrition

Definition

The progressive loss of cases as they move through the criminal justice system: from crime committed, to reported, to recorded, to prosecuted, to convicted. Each stage filters out cases, meaning conviction statistics represent only a small fraction of offending.

Related terms

Aspartic Acid Racemisation
The slow spontaneous conversion of L-aspartic acid to D-aspartic acid in the non-remodelling enamel protein. Because the rate constant is known and...
Cementum Annulation
The annual ring pairs visible in ground sections of the tooth root cementum, laid down one per year in normal conditions. Counting...
Counting Rules
Administrative instructions that specify how agencies should convert incidents into statistical records: how to count multiple victims of one incident, how to...
Kvaal Method
A non-destructive radiographic method that measures pulp-to-tooth ratios at defined reference points on periapical radiographs to estimate age from secondary dentine deposition....
Notifiable Offences
In England and Wales, the category of offences that must be formally reported to the Home Office and included in national crime...
Police-Recorded Crime
Criminal incidents formally logged by police following a report or officer discovery, counted according to nationally defined rules and submitted to a...
Reporting Rate
The proportion of crimes experienced by victims that are brought to the attention of police. Reporting rates vary substantially by offence type,...
Root Transparency
Translucency of the root dentine advancing from the apex upward, caused by mineralisation of the dentinal tubules. It is one of Gustafson's...
Secondary Dentine
Dentine deposited by the odontoblasts throughout adult life inside the pulp chamber, progressively reducing its volume. Visible radiographically as a narrowing of...
Secondary Victimisation
Additional harm caused to a victim through the process of reporting and investigation, such as disbelief, insensitive questioning, or retraumatisation. Fear of...

Explained in these topics

  • Adult Age: Gustafson, Kvaal, Cementum, RacemisationTooth-to-tooth wear of the occlusal surface. Gustafson scored it 0 (no wear) to 3 (pulp exposure through wear). Its rate is strongly influenced by diet and bru...
  • Official Crime StatisticsThe progressive loss of cases as they move through the criminal justice system: from crime committed, to reported, to recorded, to prosecuted, to convicted. Ea...

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