Summary
Summary Reasons for Unreported Crime
- Course
- Institution
- Book
A list of personal and social/cultural reasons as to why crime goes unreported.
[Show more]
Connected book
Book Title:
Author(s):
- Edition:
- ISBN:
- Edition:
More summaries for
-
Summary WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate - Unit 4
-
Summary AC2.1 Compare campaign for change
-
criminology wjec unit one 1.6
Seller
Follow
ellarose2003
Reviews received
Content preview
Why Crimes Go UnreportedPersonal Reasons
Shame and Stigma
Shame is a common reason why individual criminal offences such as: rape, sexual assault
and domestic violence go unreported.
Many feel that it is their fault and struggle to come to terms with their experience.
Stigma can also play a huge part in why crimes go unreported, especially in male rape cases.
Even though there has been an increase in awareness, it is still a very taboo subject.
Fear
Fear the ripple effect of reporting crime.
Worry that there will be consequences from the perpetrator or that they will self-
incriminate.
In domestic abuse cases, sometimes people don’t report their abuse due to the fear of
losing their partner.
Many victims fear that they won’t be believed or that they will be blamed.
Lindsay Armstrong took her own life in July 2002 after the trauma of rape and the humiliation of the
trial. Lindsay was forced to hold up the underwear she was wearing at the time of the attack which
the court used against her. Lindsay was left mentally scarred and feeling that she was to blame for
the rape. Even though this case was reported, it could’ve prevented another rape victim from
speaking out.
Disinterest
Disinterest could mean that the person isn’t interested in the crime or that they feel the
police wouldn’t be interested.
Victimless crimes are often treated with disinterest (e.g. illegally downloading music,
vagrancy) and go unreported because they don’t create upset.
Attempted robbery is another example where the victim treats the case with disinterest. If
nothing has been stolen, it may not be seen as a crime or the victim may feel that the police
wouldn’t see it as a priority.
Private matter
Some crimes go unreported because the victim feels that it is a private matter and that it is
too personal to share.
Domestic abuse is an example of a crime that could be seen as a private matter. The victim
sees it to be between them and their partner and not an issue that can be sorted by the
wider community.
The violence could escalate and the victim may still leave it unreported due to the feeling
that it isn’t anyone else’s problem or business.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller ellarose2003. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $5.21. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
79373 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now