Explanation
The term „dark figure“ refers to crime that remains unreported, unrecorded, or undiscovered, meaning it does not appear in official crime statistics. This concept highlights the limitations of relying solely on police data to understand the true extent and nature of criminal activity in society.
Reasons for the dark figure include victims not reporting crimes due to fear, shame, or distrust of authorities, police choosing not to record incidents, and systemic biases that affect which crimes are investigated and documented. Criminologists use victimization surveys, self-report studies, and qualitative research to estimate the size of the dark figure and to understand patterns of underreporting across different types of crime and victim groups.
Theoretical Reference
The concept of the dark figure is essential for criminology and criminal justice research because it challenges the validity of official statistics as an accurate measure of crime. It is central to dark figure research and victimology, prompting methods like victim surveys and self-report studies. The dark figure also raises questions about social inequality and institutional bias, as certain populations and types of crime may be systematically undercounted.