AC1.2 Why Crimes May Go Unreported Flashcards
(13 cards)
What are the two main categories of why crimes go unreported
Personal reasons
Social and cultural reasons
What are the personal reasons why crime may go unreported?
Fear
Shame
Disinterest
Not affected by the crime
Why may fear cause someone to not report a crime?
Victim may be scared of the case affecting their personal life or their job
Witness may be too scared to speak up out of fear the same thing may happen to them
Why may shame cause someone to not report a crime?
Victims may be ashamed that something happened to them and not report it out of fear that people’s opinions of them will change
Don’t want people to judge them or see them as weak
Why may disinterest cause someone to not report a crime?
If someone doesn’t see it as serious enough or if they don’t care about what happened they are unlikely to report it
Why may a crime not affecting someone cause them to not report it?
It doesn’t concern them and they are not affected or harmed by the crime
Witnesses may also not speak up as the crime doesn’t directly affect them
What are the social reasons why crime may go unreported?
Lack of knowledge
Complexity
Lack of media interest
Lack of current public concern
Why may lack of knowledge cause someone to not report a crime?
If it’s not talked about enough people may be unaware of what it is and the details of the crime— may not realise it has occurred
Why may complexity cause someone to not report a crime?
If the details of a crime are too confusing to follow, a victim may not understand what has happened so may find it difficult to report
Why may a lack of media interest cause someone to not report a crime?
If the media feel the public is uninterested they won’t talk about certain crimes, due to the lack of representation there is little awareness of some crimes
Why may a lack of current public concern cause someone to not report a crime?
The public don’t see it as serious
If it’s not viewed as criminal by society people are unlikely to report it as they aren’t concerned by it
What is a cultural reason why crimes may go unreported?
Culture bound crimes
Why may culture bound crimes cause someone to not report a crime?
An act that is criminal in one culture may be seen as acceptable in another, therefore it won’t be reported
