Why Do Victims Not Report?: Exploring the Differential Effects of Cynicism on Reporting

• In Event: Reporting Victimization to the Police

Abstract

Criminologists have considered reporting as an important aspect in the criminal justice process and most studies focus on micro characteristics that influence reporting, such as victim, offender and crime characteristics. The few studies that have explored macro social characteristics dealt mostly with social ties, socioeconomic status and perception of police competency. To expand our understanding of reporting decisions, particularly in relation to macro variables, this study explores the effect of legal cynicism on reporting, using actual reporting behaviors and controlling for variables that were shown to influence reporting. In addition, this study aims to further research in the relationship between cynicism and reporting by adding different dimensions of cynicism (police cynicism and criminal justice cynicism, and respectfulness/fairness and competency) and testing for possible differences by area socioeconomic status. Using the British Crime Survey, the study showed that different dimensions of cynicism have differential effects on reporting, with individual cynicism being more influential than area cynicism and police cynicism having a bigger impact than criminal justice cynicism.

Author

• Seokhee Yoon, Citi