This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Finkelhor, D. Articles by Ormrod, R. K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Finkelhor, D. Articles by Ormrod, R. K. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Factors in the Underreporting of Crimes Against Juveniles

University of New Hampshire

Richard K. Ormrod

University of New Hampshire

This analysis of 1995 to 1996 National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) data finds substantial underreporting to police of violent and property crimes against youth (age 12 to 17) compared with the reporting of such crimes against adults. This underreporting is not explained by the crimes involved being less serious, being committed by juvenile perpetrators, or by any other aspect of the crimes for which NCVS information is available. Counting reports to nonpolice authorities (in lieu of police) equalizes the level of reporting for property crime but not for violent crime. Law enforcement should undertake a variety of policies to try to encourage the police reporting of juvenile crime victimization, including steps to emphasize the criminal seriousness of such offenses, to undermine the code of silence, to provide incentives to report, to make reporting easier, and to work with schools about policies concerning when to involve the police.

Child Maltreatment, Vol. 6, No. 3, 219-229 (2001)
DOI: 10.1177/1077559501006003003


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. A. Cuevas, D. Finkelhor, R. Ormrod, and H. Turner Psychiatric Diagnosis as a Risk Marker for Victimization in a National Sample of Children J Interpers Violence, April 1, 2009; 24(4): 636 - 652. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. M. Watkins Examining the Disparity between Juvenile and Adult Victims in Notifying the Police: A Study of Mediating Variables Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, August 1, 2005; 42(3): 333 - 353. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. V. J. Basso, J. Graham, W. Pelech, T. DeYoung, and R. Cardey Children's Street Connections in a Canadian Community Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol, April 1, 2004; 48(2): 189 - 202. [Abstract] [PDF]

				N. B. Guterman Advancing Prevention Research on Child Abuse, Youth Violence, and Domestic Violence: Emerging Strategies and Issues J Interpers Violence, March 1, 2004; 19(3): 299 - 321. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. C. Davis and N. J. Henderson Willingness to Report Crimes: The Role of Ethnic Group Membership and Community Efficacy Crime Delinquency, October 1, 2003; 49(4): 564 - 580. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. Finkelhor and J. Wolak Reporting Assaults Against Juveniles to the Police: Barriers and Catalysts J Interpers Violence, February 1, 2003; 18(2): 103 - 128. [Abstract] [PDF]