Book contents
- The Cambridge Handbook of Psychology and Legal Decision-Making
- Cambridge Handbooks in Psychology
- The Cambridge Handbook of Psychology and Legal Decision-Making
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Editors
- Contributors
- Part I Introduction Chapters
- Part II Pretrial Phase Decision-Making
- 5 Victim Decision-Making
- 6 Bystanders’ Crime Reporting Decisions
- 7 Pretrial Publicity’s Effects on Jurors’ and Judges’ Decisions
- 8 Police Decisions Involved in Collecting Eyewitness Identification Evidence
- 9 Decisions Related to Miranda Rights
- 10 Judges’ Daubert Decisions
- 11 The Psychology of Confession Decision-Making During Police Interrogation
- 12 Plea Bargaining
- 13 Forensic Science Decision-Making
- 14 Decision-Making by Forensic Mental Health Evaluators
- 15 Interviewing Suspects in Criminal Investigations
- 16 Prosecutorial Decision-Making in Cases of Child Sexual Abuse
- 17 Decision-Making About Restoration of Defendants Who Are Incompetent to Stand Trial
- 18 Clinical Decision-Making Regarding Criminal Responsibility
- 19 Decision-Making Regarding Child Victims and Witnesses
- Part III Trial Phase Decision-Making
- Part IV Postconviction Phase Decisions
- Part V Other Legal Decision-Making
- Part VI Perspectives from the Field
- Part VII Conclusion
- Index
- References
5 - Victim Decision-Making
from Part II - Pretrial Phase Decision-Making
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 February 2024
Book contents
- The Cambridge Handbook of Psychology and Legal Decision-Making
- Cambridge Handbooks in Psychology
- The Cambridge Handbook of Psychology and Legal Decision-Making
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Editors
- Contributors
- Part I Introduction Chapters
- Part II Pretrial Phase Decision-Making
- 5 Victim Decision-Making
- 6 Bystanders’ Crime Reporting Decisions
- 7 Pretrial Publicity’s Effects on Jurors’ and Judges’ Decisions
- 8 Police Decisions Involved in Collecting Eyewitness Identification Evidence
- 9 Decisions Related to Miranda Rights
- 10 Judges’ Daubert Decisions
- 11 The Psychology of Confession Decision-Making During Police Interrogation
- 12 Plea Bargaining
- 13 Forensic Science Decision-Making
- 14 Decision-Making by Forensic Mental Health Evaluators
- 15 Interviewing Suspects in Criminal Investigations
- 16 Prosecutorial Decision-Making in Cases of Child Sexual Abuse
- 17 Decision-Making About Restoration of Defendants Who Are Incompetent to Stand Trial
- 18 Clinical Decision-Making Regarding Criminal Responsibility
- 19 Decision-Making Regarding Child Victims and Witnesses
- Part III Trial Phase Decision-Making
- Part IV Postconviction Phase Decisions
- Part V Other Legal Decision-Making
- Part VI Perspectives from the Field
- Part VII Conclusion
- Index
- References
Summary
This chapter describes crime victims’ decision to call or not to call the police, which we discuss in terms of the extent to which it is rational, social, and normative. Examining these decisions is especially important as citizens function as the gatekeepers of our system. Victimization is likely to cause distress, anger, fear, and disbelief, meaning that the reporting decision is subject both to biased judgment and to influence from others in the form of information, advice, and normative standards. Although crime seriousness is generally the most important predictor of the reporting decision, factors about the victim and the offender moderate this relationship. Serious crimes against women are often not reported, and although juveniles generally have higher rates of victimization than adults, they have lower rates of reporting. Recent concern about certain hate crimes also indicates low rates of reporting. Future research possibilities and policy implications are also discussed in this chapter.
Keywords
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2024
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