dark figure of crime

{{Short description|Term used by criminologists and sociologists}}

First coined by Belgian sociologist and criminologist Adolphe Quetelet in the 19th century,{{Cite book |last=Quetelet |first=Adolphe |title=Recherches sur le penchant au crime aux différents âges |publisher=Anderson Publishing Company |year=1984 |isbn=9780870847493 |location=Cincinnati, Ohio |language=Fr |translator-last=Sylvester |translator-first=Research on the propensity for crime at different ages |trans-title=Research on the propensity for crime at different ages}} the dark figure of crime, hidden figure of crime, or latent criminalityEllis H. Crime and Control in the English Speaking Caribbean: A Comparative Study of Jamaica, Trinidad, Tobago and Barbados, 1960-1980 // Crime and Control in Comparative Perspectives, edited by Heiland, Shelley, and Katoh. – 1992. – p. 131-161Oloruntimehin O. Crime and control in Nigeria // Crime and control in comparative perspectives. – 1992. – p. 163-188. is the amount of unreported, undetected, or undiscovered crime,{{cite book | title=Introduction to Criminology: A Text/Reader | publisher=SAGE Publications, Inc. | last1=Walsh | first1=Anthony | last2=Hemmens | first2=Craig | year=2014 | location=Thousand Oaks, CA | isbn=978-1-4522-5820-1 | edition=3rd}} and is a central concept of victimology, highlighting the limitations of solely relying upon official crime statistics. Crime may go unreported for various reasons, such as a victim being unaware that a crime occurred, personal dynamics with the perpetrator, perceived social stigma, distrust of the police, or fear of retaliation.{{Cite book |last1=VanderPyl |first1=Taryn |title=Introduction to Criminology |last2=Matsuda |first2=Mauri |last3=Moreno |first3=Jenny |last4=Sobolewski |first4=Curt |publisher=Open Oregon Educational Resources |year=2024}}

Methodology

The gap between reported and unreported crimes calls the accuracy and completeness of crime data, calling the reliability of official crime statistics into question. The analysis of multiple sources of crime data is thus necessary to adjust for this discrepancy.

All measures of crime have a dark figure to some degree. Comparisons between official statistics, such as the Uniform Crime Reports and the National Incident-Based Reporting System, and victim studies, such as the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), attempt to provide an insight into the amount of unreported crime.{{cite journal | title=Comparing Self-Reports and Official Records of Arrests | journal=Journal of Quantitative Criminology | year=2000 | volume=16 | issue=1 | pages=87–110 | last1=Maxfield | first1=Michael G. | last2=Weiler | first2=Barbara Luntz | last3=Widom | first3=Cathy Spatz | doi=10.1023/a:1007577512038| s2cid=140785017 }}{{cite book | title=Understanding Crime Incidence Statistics: Why the UCR Diverges from the NCS | publisher=Springer | year=1991 | location=New York, NY | last1=Biderman | first1=Albert D. | last2=Lynch | first2=James P. | last3=Peterson | first3=James L.}}

Self-report studies are also used in comparison with official statistics and organized datasets to assess the dark of crime.

By type

The gap in official statistics is largest for certain types of crime, particularly non-violent offenses, domestic abuse, white-collar crime, and sexual abuse.

White-collar crime, such as embezzlement and corporate fraud, often remain undetected due to several factors, including the desire to avoid law enforcement interference that could negatively impact their reputation, contracts, and employee productivity, as well as fear of potential penalties such as fines or increased scrutiny that may arise from police investigations.{{Cite journal |last1=Gottschalk |first1=Petter |last2=Tcherni-Buzzeo |first2=Maria |date=2017-03-04 |title=Reasons for Gaps in Crime Reporting: The Case of White-Collar Criminals Investigated by Private Fraud Examiners in Norway |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01639625.2016.1196993 |journal=Deviant Behavior |language=en |volume=38 |issue=3 |pages=267–281 |doi=10.1080/01639625.2016.1196993 |issn=0163-9625|url-access=subscription }} Further factors such as the limited classifications of white collar crime, manipulation of official records, resource limitations for investigators, and a historical focus on traditional crimes also hamper the efficacy of crime reporting programs such as the UCR from providing accurate statistics on white-collar crime.{{Cite journal |last=Barnett |first=Cynthia |date=n.d. |title=The Measurement of White-Collar Crime Using Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Data |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/nibrs/nibrs_wcc.pdf |journal=Federal Bureau of Investigation |via=U.S. Department of Justice}}

Sexual violence is another crime type that has been historically unreported.{{Cite web |date=March 28, 2025 |title=The Criminal Justice System: Statistics |url=https://rainn.org/statistics/criminal-justice-system |website=RAINN}} Estimates of sexual violence from victim surveys differ from sexual violence crime statistics reported by law enforcement.{{cite journal | last1=Ingemann-Hansen | first1=Ole | last2=Sabroe | first2=Svend | last3=Brink | first3=Ole | last4=Knudsen | first4=Maiken | last5=Charles | first5=Annie Vesterbye | title=Characteristics of victims and assaults of sexual violence – Improving inquiries and prevention | journal=Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine | volume=16 | issue=4 | date=2009 | doi=10.1016/j.jflm.2008.07.004 | pages=182–188| pmid=19329073 }} It is estimated that only 23 out of 1,000 of sexual violence and rape cases are reported to law enforcement, with only 1 in 5 victims disclosing their assault to law enforcement directly.{{Cite journal |date=2015 |title=Statistics about sexual violence |url=https://www.nsvrc.org/sites/default/files/publications_nsvrc_factsheet_media-packet_statistics-about-sexual-violence_0.pdf |journal=National Sexual Violence Resource Center}} Common reasons victims cite for not reporting include considering the incident a personal matter, fear of reprisal, or a belief that the police may be biased or ineffective.{{Cite journal |last=Rennison |first=Callie |date=August 2002 |title=Rape and Sexual Assault: Reporting to Police and Medical Attention, 1992-2000 |url=https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/rsarp00.pdf |journal=Bureau of Justice Statistics |via=U.S. Department of Justice}} In cases of attempted rape, victims may also choose not to report in order to protect the offender. The relationship between the victim and the offender can also significantly impact reporting. Crimes committed by current or former intimate partners are especially likely to go unreported, as are incidents involving friends or acquaintances.

dark figure of crime

Methodology

By type

See also

References

Further reading