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Should there be a duty to report crime?
1Department of Psychology, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau 63701, USA. cveneziano@semovm.semo.edu
Psychological Reports
|November 22, 2000
Summary
Most people believe that failing to report crimes should be punished, with fines being the most common suggested penalty. Support for legal consequences for not reporting illegal acts appears strong across a diverse sample.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Criminology
- Legal Studies
Background:
- Legal systems traditionally do not punish failure to report crimes.
- Previous research explored reasons for bystander inaction during criminal events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate public opinion on legal punishments for failure to report crimes.
- To determine if college students and the general public support mandatory reporting laws.
Main Methods:
- Survey administered to 301 college students and public citizens.
- Respondents evaluated various illegal acts and punishment types (no punishment, fine, prison).
Main Results:
- The majority of respondents favored punishments for most crimes.
- Fines were the most frequently suggested penalty for non-reporting.
- More severe punishments were recommended for more serious offenses.
- Some sex-based differences in opinions were observed.
Conclusions:
- Public support for laws mandating crime reporting appears substantial.
- The study suggests a potential shift in societal attitudes towards bystander responsibility.