Race, Ethnicity, and Reporting
Early theories suggested that African Americans were less likely than Whites to report crimes because they held more negative attitudes toward police and did not trust the criminal justice system, preferring to handle their problems on their own. Recent research, however, has resulted in conflicting findings. Some studies continue to support the idea that African Americans and Latinos are less likely to report crimes than Whites, and provide plausible explanations for why this may be true (Maier, 2008). On the other hand, The National Crime Victimization Survey’s study of victimization rates between 2001 and 2005 found that 54.7% of violent crimes against African Americans were reported to police, as compared with 47.7% of violent crimes against White Americans (Harrell, 2007).
Some research suggests that reporting behavior varies by type of crime. For example, Latinos may be less likely to report serious assaults than other groups, but more likely to report simple assaul
ts (Rennison, 2010, cited in Zaykowski, 2010). A study of victims of intimate partner violence found that women of color were more likely than White women to call the police after an assault (Akers & Kaukinen, 2009).
The differences in reporting behavior by type of crime vary among different cultures and ethnicities in the US, including immigrant communities. For example, some groups may be reluctant to report abuse crimes because it brings shame to the family (Davis, 2013).
In this Discussion, you analyze why certain ethnic or immigrant groups may be reluctant to report victimization, and identify possible strategies that might reduce this reluctance.
Post by Day 1 a brief description of an ethnic or immigrant population that may be less likely to report victimization. Then explain how race or ethnicity may contribute to the population’s reluctance to report. Finally, explain an outreach program that law enforcement might conduct to promote reporting victimization among ethnic or immigrant populations.