HOW CONSISTENT ARE PEOPLE IN THEIR READINESS TO REPORT AN OFFENSE TO THE POLICE?

• NCJ Number: 43861
• Journal: Schriftenreihe der Polizei-Fuehrungsakademie Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: (1977) Pages: 59-69
• Author(s): J KUERZINGER
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: Walter Rau Verlag
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: German
• Country: West Germany (Former)

Annotation

REPORTED CRIME SEEMS TO REPRESENT LESS THE REALITY OF ACTUALLY COMMITTED OFFENSES THAN A VALUATION OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES IN SOCIETY.

Abstract

ACCORDING TO ALL AVAILABLE STUDIES, ONLY A SMALL PORTION OF ALL OFFENSES COMMITTED IS REPORTED TO THE POLICE (ABOUT 90 PERCENT ARE REPORTED BY THE INJURED PARTIES THEMSELVES). THE AUTHOR CONCENTRATES ON THE PERSONALITY OF THE INFORMER AND ON HIS ATTITUDE TOWARDS CRIMINALITY, THE POLICE, AND THE COMPLAINT. IMPORTANT ELEMENTS INFLUENCING THE READINESS OF PEOPLE TO REPORT OFFENSES ARE, AMONG OTHERS, THE VOLUME AND THE STRUCTURE OF THE CRIMINALITY HAVING COME TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED). -- IN GERMAN.