Crime

Instructions

  • For the data, right-click, “save/download file as…”
  • Open the data
  • Complete all of the tasks associated with that data and keep track of your answers / images
  • Once you are done, go on Canvas and answer the questions related to the assignment
    • the Canvas assignment is timed; if you open it prior to completing the tasks you will run out of time

Skills used:

  • Sorting/filtering
  • grouped summary statistics
  • plotting

My awkward Google Sheets video tutorials are here

Task 1: The base determines the superstructure

“…In the social production of their existence, men inevitably enter into definite relations, which are independent of their will, namely relations of production appropriate to a given stage in the development of their material forces of production. The totality of these relations of production constitutes the economic structure of society, the real foundation, on which arises a legal and political superstructure and to which correspond definite forms of social consciousness. The mode of production of material life conditions the general process of social, political and intellectual life. It is not the consciousness of men that determines their existence, but their social existence that determines their consciousness…”

  1. The narco-corrido became a popular genre of music during Mexico’s so-called “drug war” of the 2010s. What are narcocorridos, and how do they typically depict the drug trade? Explain in 3-4 sentences and include a link to an example song. (3 points)

  2. Saints play an important role in Catholic cultures. In Mexico, there was an alleged, increased interest in a lesser known saint: “Santa Muerte”. Who is Santa Muerte, and what role does she play in believer’s faiths? Explain in 3-4 sentences, include a link to a reference article (any source is fine). (3 points)

Task 2: prison planet

Let’s look at this data on worldwide prison populations. Variable dictionary below.

  1. Using this data, look at the same country you have chosen to look at in previous points of this class. Where does this country rank in the world, in terms of prison population rate, number of pre-trial detainees, and number of juvenile prisoners? Note: if no data on your country, pick a different one. 1-2 sentences. (2 points)

  2. Using this data, calculate the average prison rate per region of the world. Where does Latin America and the Caribbean rank globally? (1 point).

  3. Look at the top 10 worst countries in the world in terms of occupancy rates. How many of these countries are in Latin America? (1 pt)

  4. Make a scatterplot of the prison population rate (x-axis) against the number of prisons a country has (y-axis). There is an “outlier” country that has an unusually large number of prisons relative to its low prison population rate. What is this country? (1 point).

original labels
country Country
region UN regions
prison_population_rate prisoners per 100,000 of the national population
prison_population_total total prisoners
female_prisoners % of prisoners who are female
pre_trial_detainees % of prisoners who are pre-trial detainees
foreign_prisoners % of prisoners who are foreigners
occupancy_level % occupancy (prisoners / number of beds)
juvenile_prisoners % of prisoners who are juveniles
number_institutions Number of prisons