WHY NOTIFY THE POLICE - THE VICTIM'S DECISION TO NOTIFY THE POLICE OF AN ASSAULT

• NCJ Number: 13765
• Journal: Criminology Volume: 11 Issue: 4 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1974) Pages: 555-569
• Author(s): R Block
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 15 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: University of Chicago
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPORT PRESENTED AT MEETINGS OF THE AMERICAN SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, NEW ORLEANS, AUGUST 29, 1972

Annotation

DECISION-MAKING MODEL OF VICTIM NOTIFICATION OF THE POLICE BASED ON THE VICTIM'S ASSESSMENT OF COSTS AND BENEFITS DERIVED FROM NOTIFICATION.

Abstract

FROM A RANDOM SAMPLE OF 10,000 HOUSEHOLDS, 3,4000 CASES OF CRIME VICTIMIZATION WERE REPORTED, AND 190 CASES OF ASSAULT OR BATTERY WERE CLOSELY ANALYZED. THE ANALYSIS OF THESE REPORTS OF ASSAULTS IS THE BASIS FOR THIS PAPER. RESULTS REVEALED THAT VARIABLES WHICH SHOULD RATIONALLY GO INTO THE VICTIM'S DECISION TO NOTIFY THE POLICE OF AN ATTACK ARE, IN FACT, RELATED TO THE VICTIM'S DECISION. THE CLOSER THE RELATIONSHIP OF VICTIM AND ASSAILANT THE LESS LIKELY NOTIFICATION WILL BE. THE GREATER THE IMPLICATION OF THE VICTIM, THE LESS LIKELY HE WILL NOTIFY THE POLICE. THE HIGHER THE VICTIM'S SOCIAL CLASS THE LESS LIKELY WILL BE NOTIFICATION. WHAT THIS PAPER IMPLIES, THEREFORE, IS THAT NOTIFICATION OF POLICE IS FAR FROM AN AUTOMATIC DECISION. RATHER, THE DECISION IS ONE WHICH IS MADE ON THE POSSIBLE REWARDS TO BE GAINED AND THE COSTS TO BE ENDURED IN NOTIFYING THE POLICE. IF MANY VICTIMS DO NOT NOTIFY THE POLICE, THEY PROBABLY HAVE GOOD REASONS FOR THEIR DECISION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)