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First coined by Belgiansociologist andcriminologistAdolphe Quetelet in the 19th century,[1] thedark figure of crime,hidden figure of crime, orlatent criminality[2][3] is the amount of unreported, undetected, or undiscovered crime,[4] and is a central concept ofvictimology, 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.[5]
The gap between reported and unreported crimes calls theaccuracy and completeness of crime data, calling thereliability of officialcrime 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 theUniform Crime Reports and theNational Incident-Based Reporting System, andvictim studies, such as theNational Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), attempt to provide an insight into the amount of unreported crime.[6][7]
Self-report studies are also used in comparison with official statistics and organized datasets to assess the dark of crime.[4]
The gap in official statistics is largest for certain types of crime, particularly non-violent offenses,domestic abuse,white-collar crime, andsexual abuse.[4]
White-collar crime, such asembezzlement 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.[8] 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.[9]
Sexual violence is another crime type that has been historically unreported.[10]Estimates of sexual violence from victim surveys differ from sexual violencecrime statistics reported bylaw enforcement.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13] 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.[13]
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