Police reporting and professional help seeking for child crime victims: a review.
Most crimes with child victims are not reported to police, nor do child victims access other professional victim services, despite evidence that these yield positive outcomes. This article develops a conceptual framework about the barriers to such access: (a) the reluctance to define the crime episodes or their consequences as serious, criminal, harmful, or warranting intervention; (b) the extra authorities, including parents and schools, who mediate between victims and police or services; (c) developmental issues, such as concerns about autonomy; (d) attitudinal and emotional obstacles; and (e) time and expense factors. This article suggests the need for initiatives to stimulate reporting and help seeking, such as more publicity about the seriousness of juvenile victimization, more justice-system involvement with schools, more child and family friendly police services, and an emphasis on attractive outcomes such as justice and empowerment.
Finkelhor
D
D
Crimes Against Children Research Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA. david.finkelhor@unh.edu
Wolak
J
J
Berliner
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002651:Child Advocacy; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D019221:Mandatory Reporting; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016495:Police / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011209:Power, Psychological; D012307:Risk Factors; D012935:Social Justice