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PATTERNS OF REPORTING NONCRIMINAL INCIDENTS TO THE POLICE
Author(s) -
MEYER JOHN C.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
criminology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.467
H-Index - 139
eISSN - 1745-9125
pISSN - 0011-1384
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-9125.1974.tb00621.x
Subject(s) - criminology , psychology , public relations , political science , business
Reasons for citizen reporting to the police have not been systematically studied. This paper presents the results of an inquiry into the patterns of reporting noncriminal incidents. These events far outnumber crimes reported to the police in most jurisdictions and present unique opportunities for research. Four reporting patterns are presented and discussed: maintaining social boundaries: relieving unpleasant situations; counter‐reporting; and correcting hazardous situations. The consequences of these patterns for policing and criminology are outlined in terms of citizens defining the most probable outcomes of situations .