Understanding differences in crime reporting practices: a comparative approach

Abstract

Despite a large body of literature detailing crime reporting practices, scant research examines the correlates of the crime reporting decision in developing nations with newer democracies, newer economies, or developing economies. Using a sample of 23 nations from the 2000 International Crime Victimization Survey (ICVS), this study tests the generalizability of correlates of robbery and assault reports to the police in a non-US sample to determine whether there are national differences in reporting practices. Based on this analysis emphasizing the developing world and countries in transition, an expanded model, integrating incident, demographic, police-related, and national variables, is developed that will enhance our understanding of differences in reporting practices in developing and developed nations. Results identified both similarities and differences in crime reporting practices between developed and developing nations. Although the findings reinforce the importance of incident and demographic characteristics on reporting crime to the police, they also suggest that national variables, reflecting economic and social context, should not be excluded from studies examining reporting practices. ARTICLE HISTORY

International Differences in Crime Reporting: A Multilevel Exploration of Burglary Reporting in 35 Countries

“…Much of the research on this topic has primarily focused on developed nations such as those just discussed (e.g., Goudriaan et al, 2004; Torrente et al, 2017). To offset this focus, Estienne and Morabito (2016) center their investigation of robbery and assault reporting on a sample of 23 primarily developing countries. Although the research design only included two country-level variables, focusing more on whether previous findings on individual- and situation-level factors held up in this sample, the authors did find that income inequality in a country had a negative relationship with crime reporting: as income inequality increased, reporting decreased (Estienne & Morabito, 2016).…”

“…To offset this focus, Estienne and Morabito (2016) center their investigation of robbery and assault reporting on a sample of 23 primarily developing countries. Although the research design only included two country-level variables, focusing more on whether previous findings on individual- and situation-level factors held up in this sample, the authors did find that income inequality in a country had a negative relationship with crime reporting: as income inequality increased, reporting decreased (Estienne & Morabito, 2016). However, the authors also stressed that their results support the idea that national-level influences may differ by crime type (Estienne & Morabito, 2016), which is consistent with some of the literature discussed above.…”

Police Violence and the Underreporting of Crime

“…However, the available evidence suggests that the determinants of crime reporting across developed and developing countries might not be the same. National context seems to be crucial in explaining reporting since huge disparities exist in crime reporting rates across the globe (Estienne & Morabito, ; Soares, ,b). For instance, according to the International Crime Victims Survey (ICVS) data, the self‐reported rate of victimization for theft in Denmark is 11%; while the rate of theft reported to police is 8%, so around 28% of thefts go unreported.…”

“…In this regard, the most important factor is the seriousness of the crime. Whether the crime was only attempted or actually consummated, the degree of material or financial loss, the use of a weapon or violence, and the extent of injuries (if any), are all factors that affect the likelihood that a crime is reported to the authorities (Bowles, Reyes, & Garoupa, 2009;Estienne & Morabito, 2016;Gottfredson & Hindelang, 1979;Goudriaan, Lynch, & Nieuwbeerta, 2004;Skogan, 1984;Tarling & Morris, 2010). As noted by Estienne and Morabito (2016), the more serious the crime, the higher the benefits of reporting, such as the benefit of seeing the perpetrator punished and the belief that the crime will be successfully pursued within the system.…”

“…With few exceptions, relatively little has been done to study this issue in middle income and poor countries (cf. Estienne & Morabito, ). However, the available evidence suggests that the determinants of crime reporting across developed and developing countries might not be the same.…”