Reporting to the Police

Gender | Race | Hispanic origin | Reasons for not reporting

Gender

Between 1994 and 2005, reporting to police of nonfatal intimate partner victimization increased for female victims.

To view data, click on the chart.

Note: See National Crime Victimization Survey Methodology for discussion of estimating change in the reporting of victimizations to the police.

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Race

For the 2001 to 2005 period, the percentage of nonfatal intimate partner victimizations reported to the police was —

• higher for black females than white females.
  
  
• higher for black females than black males.
  
  
• about the same for black and white males.

[D]

Note: Beginning in 2003 the racial categories are white/black/other "only" and "two or more races." "Other race" includes American Indians/Alaska Natives, Asians, and Native Hawaiians/other Pacific Islanders identifying a single racial background. See National Crime Victimization Survey Methodology in Additional Information about the data for more details.

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Hispanic origin

Between 2001 and 2005, the percentage of nonfatal intimate partner victimizations reported to the police was -

• about the same for Hispanic and non-Hispanic females.
  
  
• higher for male Hispanic victims than non-Hispanic males.

[D]

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Reasons for not reporting

Private or personal matter was the most frequent reason given for not reporting nonfatal intimate partner violence to police. On average between 2001 and 2005, almost 40% of male and 22% of female victims gave this reason.

The reasons stated for not notifying police about the nonfatal intimate partner victimization were --

• fear of reprisal for 12% of female victims.
  
  
• to protect the offender for 14% of female and 16% of male victims.
  
  
• because the police would not do anything for 8% of female victims.