Social and Cultural Reasons for Unreported Crimes
The second page of the transcript delves into social and cultural reasons that contribute to why do crimes go unreported criminology. These factors often involve broader societal issues and perceptions.
Lack of knowledge about what constitutes a crime or how to report it is a significant factor. This is particularly relevant for complex or emerging crimes such as cybercrime.
Vocabulary: White-collar crimes refer to financially motivated, nonviolent crimes typically committed by business and government professionals.
Media coverage plays a crucial role in public awareness of crimes. The bias in media reporting can lead to certain types of crimes being underreported or ignored.
Highlight: Media tends to focus on high-profile cases like stabbings or murders, often neglecting less sensational crimes such as white-collar offenses.
Public concern, or lack thereof, can influence crime reporting rates. If a particular crime is not causing public concern, it is less likely to be reported.
Example: Changing public attitudes towards cannabis use have led to decreased reporting of this technically illegal activity in many places.
Culture-bound crimes present a unique challenge to crime reporting. These are practices that are illegal in the country but may be seen as customs within certain communities.
Definition: Culture-bound crimes are illegal activities that are accepted or tolerated within specific cultural or community contexts.
Example: Culture bound crime examples include honor killings, female genital mutilation FGM, and forced marriages.
Understanding these social and cultural factors is crucial for addressing the consequences of unreported crime and developing strategies to improve crime reporting rates.
