AC1.3 explain the consequences of unreported crime
Broken window thesis/ ripple effect
The broken window thesis is an example of the ‘ripple effect’ where crime goes unreported.
The ‘ripple effect’ is another word to describe a crime continuing and having an influence on
others to also commit the same crime. An example can be a male domestic abuser being the
victim of abuse themselves when they were younger. They could be abusing their partner
now as they may have seen this as normal behaviour and was not educated that this is a
wrong thing to do so have learnt certain forms of behaviour. The ‘ripple effect’ can affect the
community around them and the more it goes unreported the more it will be seen as
acceptable behaviour, although it is causing harm to other individuals. For victims it can be a
direct cost to damaged property, PTSD from past experiences, loss of trust in society,
changes in lifestyle and living with guilt and shame because they have been a victim of crime
and do not want society to look at them this way.
A case study to support the ‘ripple effect’ is the soham murder. The two young children were
lured over by the caretaker of the school , Ian Kevin Huntley. He killed them both with the
help of a teacher assistant, Maxine Ann Carr, who was responsible for facilitating their death.
who also, provided Hutley with a false alibi and received a three and half sentence. Because
of the sentence time, many may now believe the criminal justice system is wrong and they
will be angry at the fact she only got three and a half years although she was involved with
the murder as she knew hutley was going to mudrer them so that is why she facilitated a
place for the two children after the murder was done.The murder would affect the family,
friends and the community. Also, the children and the parents at the school would lose trust
in the school and teachers as they hired a caretaker who they believed was responsible.
Cultural consequences
Cultural consequences are when a crime is legal in other countries but illegal in others. This
may be because of their religion and beliefs to particular values and practices, for example,
forced marriage. In some countries including the US and south asia. These types of crimes
may go unreported as we do not know their beliefs towards these situations and most people
do not know it is happening unless it has been reported in the media. By not being able to
understand certain beliefs we would not be able to offer support for the victim. Also, if this
crime is not being reported as much as it should it would not seem to be a big deal even
though it is because many young people are involved within this situation. A case study to
back this up is the Kirsy Bamu case. It was accused by the victims family he used witchcraft
and was then killed. This occurred because the family originated from democratic republic of
congo where witchcraft is believed to be an african tradition where exorcisms are performed
in churches. Because of the killer's beliefs they felt ‘forced to attack’ and left Kristy Bamu
with 130 injuries and left dead in the bath.
Public decriminalisation
Public decriminalisation is when the majority of the public see the situation to be fine to do,
even if the situation is illegal. Public decriminalisation often leads to legal decriminalisation
Broken window thesis/ ripple effect
The broken window thesis is an example of the ‘ripple effect’ where crime goes unreported.
The ‘ripple effect’ is another word to describe a crime continuing and having an influence on
others to also commit the same crime. An example can be a male domestic abuser being the
victim of abuse themselves when they were younger. They could be abusing their partner
now as they may have seen this as normal behaviour and was not educated that this is a
wrong thing to do so have learnt certain forms of behaviour. The ‘ripple effect’ can affect the
community around them and the more it goes unreported the more it will be seen as
acceptable behaviour, although it is causing harm to other individuals. For victims it can be a
direct cost to damaged property, PTSD from past experiences, loss of trust in society,
changes in lifestyle and living with guilt and shame because they have been a victim of crime
and do not want society to look at them this way.
A case study to support the ‘ripple effect’ is the soham murder. The two young children were
lured over by the caretaker of the school , Ian Kevin Huntley. He killed them both with the
help of a teacher assistant, Maxine Ann Carr, who was responsible for facilitating their death.
who also, provided Hutley with a false alibi and received a three and half sentence. Because
of the sentence time, many may now believe the criminal justice system is wrong and they
will be angry at the fact she only got three and a half years although she was involved with
the murder as she knew hutley was going to mudrer them so that is why she facilitated a
place for the two children after the murder was done.The murder would affect the family,
friends and the community. Also, the children and the parents at the school would lose trust
in the school and teachers as they hired a caretaker who they believed was responsible.
Cultural consequences
Cultural consequences are when a crime is legal in other countries but illegal in others. This
may be because of their religion and beliefs to particular values and practices, for example,
forced marriage. In some countries including the US and south asia. These types of crimes
may go unreported as we do not know their beliefs towards these situations and most people
do not know it is happening unless it has been reported in the media. By not being able to
understand certain beliefs we would not be able to offer support for the victim. Also, if this
crime is not being reported as much as it should it would not seem to be a big deal even
though it is because many young people are involved within this situation. A case study to
back this up is the Kirsy Bamu case. It was accused by the victims family he used witchcraft
and was then killed. This occurred because the family originated from democratic republic of
congo where witchcraft is believed to be an african tradition where exorcisms are performed
in churches. Because of the killer's beliefs they felt ‘forced to attack’ and left Kristy Bamu
with 130 injuries and left dead in the bath.
Public decriminalisation
Public decriminalisation is when the majority of the public see the situation to be fine to do,
even if the situation is illegal. Public decriminalisation often leads to legal decriminalisation
