Dark figure of crime

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In criminology and sociology, the dark figure of crime, or hidden figure of crime, is the amount of unreported or undiscovered crime.^[1]

Methodology[]

This gap between reported and unreported crimes calls the reliability of official crime statistics into question, but all measures of crime have a dark figure to some degree. The gap in official statistics is largest for less serious crimes.^[1]

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.^[2][3]

Self-report studies are also used in comparison with official statistics to assess the dark figure of crime.^[1]

See also[]

• There are known knowns

References[]

Further reading[]

• Moore, S. (1996). Investigating Crime and Deviance. Harpers Collins. ISBN 0-00-322439-2, pages 211–220.
• Coleman, C., & Moynihan, J. (1996). Understanding crime data: haunted by the dark figure. Open University Press. ISBN 0-335-19519-9.

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