Reporting Assaults Against Juveniles to the Police Barriers and Catalysts

Reporting crimes to the police is a two-smgep~ocess. Wctirns and familiesfirst resognize whethera crime hasoccurredand, $so, are influencedby a variety of conviderations in deciding whether to report it. In a national sample ofphysical andsexuel assaults againstjuveniles. recognilion of the assault ar a crime war more likely for episodes inwlving adolescent (vs. preadoiescent) victirns, adult andrnultiple offendu s , physical injuries, female victims, and when families had prior experiences with police. Among families who recogrtiied the episode ns a crime, actual reporting lo police was more likely when the perpetrator was an adult, the famdy had been advised ro report, the famiiy hadprior experience with the police, the fam~ly believed the police ~vould rake rhe episode seriuu.ily, and when the child was believedslill to be in dunger fmm the perpetrator Reportmg was less likely for assaults fhut occurred at school.