The Decision to Call the Police: A Comparative Study of the United States and Venezuela

Abstract

Cross-national studies of the police have indicated that cultural and attitudinal variables are important determinants of citizens' decision to call the police. In contrast, crime victimization surveys conducted within countries have indicated that crime seriousness is the only important variable. In the present study, data from household surveys conducted in the United States and Venezuela are used to test the relative importance of attitudes toward the police and seriousness of crime as determinants of calling the police. Results indicate that seriousness is a better predictor than attitudes toward the police, although it by no means accounts for all cross-national differences in reporting patterns. Further study of attitudes toward the police would be fruitful.