NCJ Number
68629
Date Published
1978
Length
40 pages
Annotation
ACCORDING TO POLISH STUDIES, MORE RESEARCH ON THE EXTENT OF UNREPORTED CRIME, WHICH IS MUCH MORE WIDESPREAD THAN REPORTED CRIME, IS NEEDED TO DEVELOP REALISTIC STRATEGIES OF CRIME CONTROL.
Abstract
IN POLAND THERE HAVE BEEN ONLY A FEW, FRAGMENTARY STUDIES OF UNREPORTED CRIME TO DATE, MOSTLY CONCERNING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. THEY SHOW THAT UNREPORTED CRIME HAS BEEN MUCH MORE WIDESPREAD THAN CRIME WHICH WAS REPORTED TO THE POLICE. FOR EXAMPLE, A 1977 STUDY OF 3,179 SCHOOL CHILDREN AGED 9 TO 16 FOUND 58.7 PERCENT OF THEM ADMITTING TO STEALING; OF THESE 18.1 PERCENT STOLE FROM A LOCAL GROCERY STORE. HOWEVER, ONLY 5 PERCENT OF THE SELF-REPORTED JUVENILE SHOPLIFTERS HAD BEEN QUESTIONED BY THE POLICE. STUDIES OF UNREPORTED ADULT CRIME SHOWED A SIMILAR SITUATION; E.G., ONLY 2.1 PERCENT OF KNOWN ILLEGAL GAS PURCHASE CASES WERE PROSECUTED IN THE PERIOD FROM 1965 TO 1967. THE STATISTICS ON REPORTED CRIME SHOWED THAT 500,000 CASES A YEAR WERE KNOWN TO THE POLICE DURING THE PERIOD BETWEEN 1960 AND 1971. THE FALL IN THIS RATE TO 330,000 CASES A YEAR, STARTING IN 1972, WAS ATTRIBUTED TO LEGISLATIVE CHANGES (SOME PETTY MISDEMEANORS WERE RECLASSIFIED AND TRIED BY CIVIL SERVICE BODIES, AND NOT BY THE COURTS). HOWEVER, DURING THE YEARS 1975 TO 1976 THE YEARLY CRIME RATE ROSE TO 430,000, DUE TO POPULATION INCREASE. THE NUMBER OF JUVENILE DELINQUENTS DROPPED IN THE LAST DECADE BECAUSE OF EFFORTS TO RESTRICT THE NUMBER OF JUVENILE CASES BROUGHT BEFORE THE COURTS. EVEN THOUGH THE OFFICIAL STATISTICS DO NOT REFLECT THE TRUE EXTENT OF CRIME, THEY ARE USEFUL IN EVALUATING THE ACTIVITIES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND THE EFFECTS OF LEGISLATIVE CHANGES. THESE TOPICS ARE FURTHER EXPLORED IN THE REMAINDER OF THE BOOK, FOR WHICH THIS CHAPTER IS AN INTRODUCTION --SEE NCJ 68628 AND 68630-42. TABULAR DATA AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. --IN POLISH.