consequences of unreported crime ac1.3

Consequences you NEED to know. (9)

1. Ripple effect

2. Cultural consequences

3. Decriminalisation

4. Legal change

5. Police prioritization

6. Unrecorded crime

7. Cultural change

8. Procedural change

Consequences of unreported crime in depth: ripple affect

Definition

Unreported crime might not affect JUST the victim but affects society as well. An example of the ripple affect would be a child of abuse not realizing it’s wrong and going onto abuse others, then them not knowing it’s wrong and so on and so forth.

Example of the ripple affect

Name

General definition of what Happened

Name; Emily Longley

Definition; (ripple affect bc his actions got worse and worse due to unreporting)

17 year old Emily dated Elliot turner, she tried to break it off repeatedly and when she did, he put her in a “sleepover hold” and choked her. Elliot used verbal abuse ranging to choking her and physical abuse e.g. hitting. Elliot talked about killing her but nobody reported. Neither did she. Without external intervention he felt like he could continue.

Cultural consequences

I’d crime stays unreported it reinforces within those cultures that that crime is acceptable - this leads to more people doing it. And can sometimes lead to decriminalisation. (Something is still technically illegal but not treated as a crime, more as a minor offense. Examples could be the downloading of music and movies f vagrancy which was actually made legal. And even being queer which was made legal.

What happened in 1967 which was a benefit to people whom were gay

Law passed made it legal for gay people to marry and adopt children

Decriminalization

Something still illegal but not treated like it, more like a minor offense.

Case study for legal change (Portugal)

Portugal police incinerate 4 tones of drugs every couple of weeks

When drug use was really high they would prosecute anybody in court for drug trafficking even if they only had a small amount.

2001 policy law made it no longer an offense to use small amounts of drugs

People with addictions get help instead of prison

employees visit people who do drugs offering new clean safe equipment to prevent harm.

Spends and costs now split into this; 90% treatment for people using drugs, 10% used for policing.

In 2001 to 2012, an average of 80 deaths from drugs dropped to 16.

But it’s still illegal to sell/ supply drugs

Ignore

Consequences of unreported crime in depth; legal change

NOT the same as decriminalization.

You make a criminal offense legal

Police prioritization

Police can’t investigate every crime ever so they will prioritize other cases which are “more severe”. (Due to lack of resources)

More reported crime = most likely to be prioritized

Under reported crime = probably less likely to be prioritized.

Consequences of unreported crime in depth; Unrecorded crime

What is the dark figure of crime

If people don’t report crime, it can’t be recorded. But, police can also choose not to record crime. They can do this if;

1. Disbelief/lack of evidence

2. Victim refuses to press charges

3. Save resources

4. Considered too trivial/not a priority.

This can lead to the “dark figure of crime” (crimes which happen but don’t appear in crime stats) this includes crimes not witnessed, recorded, reported or unknown.

Police fail to report 1/5 of all crime.

Consequences of unreported crime in depth; cultural change

Cultural change refers to how society’s values, ideals, beleifs and behaviors chnage and adapt over time.

Normalities and values

1. Society inevitably changes

2. Norms + Val’s change bc of this, crimes which were illegal are now legal e.g vagrancy, being a member of the lgbtq+

Acceptance of disorder (still cultural change)

People who live in high petty crime ridden places feel helpless and they begin to stop reporting.

‘Broken windows” theory, if minor crimes stop getting reported, more people start doing it and more crime follows.

Consequences of unreported crime in depth; procedural change

• Linked to lack of knowledge

• Concern of unreporting crime

• Telephone hotlines

• Charities and hotlines