Why are official criminal statistics particularly problematic in estimating trends in youth crime?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Official criminal statistics rely on the number of crimes reported and recorded by law enforcement agencies, which may not accurately reflect the true prevalence of youth crime. Changes in the number of ten to 17 year-olds in the population can also affect the statistics, making it difficult to estimate trends in youth crime. Moreover, some youth crimes may not be reported to the police, and there may be discrepancies in how different law enforcement agencies collect and report data. Therefore, official criminal statistics are particularly problematic in estimating trends in youth crime.

Why Are Official Criminal Statistics Particularly Problematic in Estimating Trends