NCJ Number
169199
Date Published
1997
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Data from Australia's National Crime and Safety Survey for 1993 were used to determine the factors that affect Australian citizens' willingness to report crime, the impacts of specific factors, and implications for future research and policy making.
Abstract
The survey gathered information from individuals and households about their experience of selected crimes, reporting behavior, risk factors, and membership in neighborhood watch or rural watch programs. Results revealed that about 8 in 10 incidents of completed breaking and entering were reported to the police, compared to just over 1 in 2 incidents of robbery and about 1 in 3 assaults. Reasons for not reporting included the belief that the crime was too trivial, the belief that the police either could not or would not do anything, the view that the incident was a private matter, and the lack of property loss. The analysis also suggested the characteristics that increased the likelihood that the victimization would be reported to the police. Findings also indicated that incidents causing physical harm to the victim or with a greater potential for threatening the victim's safety are reported at higher rates than others, that those experiencing multiple victimizations from the same offense and those who are disadvantaged reduces the willingness to report crimes. These and other findings suggest the need for several policy initiatives as well as research to provide a more complete understanding of non- reporting, its distribution, and its correlates. Tables and 14 references