Sexual Assault and Robbery Disclosure: A Test of Black's Theory of the Behavior of Law

• In Event: The prevalence and cause of sexual violence and victimization

Abstract

Sexual assault and robbery are two qualitatively different violent crimes. The most notable difference between these two crimes is the disparity in both reporting rates and rates of victim agency usage. This study uses the NCVS and Black's Theory of the Behavior of Law to explore whether the differences between rates of disclosure (reporting to police or using a victim agency) are due to social status or whether these differences can be attributed to crime type. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Author

• Caitlyn Muniz, The University of Texas at El Paso