What crime is the most unreported?

Asked by: Tavares Marvin  |  Last update: July 3, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (10 votes)

Rape is the most under-reported crime; 63% of sexual assaults are not reported to police (o). Only 12% of child sexual abuse is reported to the authorities (g). The prevalence of false reporting is between 2% and 10%.

What is the most reported type of crime?

In 2023, property crime was the most common type of crime committed in the United States, with over 6.41 million offenses reported to the FBI.

What is the most cleared crime?

Crime clearance rate U.S. 2023, by type of offense

In 2023, murder and manslaughter charges had the highest crime clearance rate in the United States, with 57.8 percent of all cases being cleared by arrest or so-called exceptional means.

What are crimes that go unreported called?

In criminology and sociology, the dark figure of crime, hidden figure of crime, or latent criminality is the amount of unreported or undiscovered crime.

What is the least reported violent crime?

Rape is the least reported violent crime. Most murders are committed by strangers. Most burglars know their victims.

Sexual assaults most unreported crime

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What is the least serious crime?

Infractions, which can also be called violations, are the least serious crimes and include minor offenses such as jaywalking and motor vehicle offenses that result in a simple traffic ticket. Infractions are generally punishable by a fine or alternative sentencing such as traffic school.

Who has the worst crime rate?

New Mexico had the highest violent crime rate of any state at 780.5 incidences per 100,000 residents, followed by Alaska (758.9), Arkansas (645.3), Louisiana (628.6), and Tennessee (621.6).

What is the highest unreported crime?

Rape is the most under-reported crime; 63% of sexual assaults are not reported to police (o). Only 12% of child sexual abuse is reported to the authorities (g). The prevalence of false reporting is between 2% and 10%.

What crimes are most likely to go unreported?

According to the American Medical Association (1995), sexual violence, and rape in particular, is considered the most under-reported violent crime. Common reasons for individuals not reporting crime include fear of not being believed, insecurity, and fear of getting into trouble.

What are most hate crimes based on?

Race-Based Crimes: Hate crimes rooted in race, ethnicity or ancestry remain the most common. There were 5,900 reported incidents in 2023. Anti-Black or African American incidents made up more than half of these incidents (51.3%) and were more than three times higher than the next highest racial or ethnic category.

What is the greatest crime of all time?

While by no means a comprehensive list, here are some of the most famous:
  • Osage Murders. ...
  • Lindbergh Kidnapping. ...
  • Bonnie & Clyde. ...
  • Rosenberg Espionage Case. ...
  • Assassination of JFK. ...
  • Murder of Medgar Evers. ...
  • D.B. ...
  • Patty Hearst Kidnapping.

What weapon is most used in murders?

Handguns were the type of weapon found to be the leading cause of murders. The FBI data further revealed that handguns were used in 45.7% of homicides nationwide. The following is a simple breakdown of the percentage of each type of firearm used in nationwide homicides: Handguns 45.7%

What are the top 3 crimes in the US?

Top 20 Most Common Crimes in the United States
  • Drug Abuse and Trafficking. Drug abuse and trafficking involve the illegal possession, distribution, and sale of drugs. ...
  • Assault. Assault is a violent crime that involves intentional or reckless bodily harm to another person. ...
  • DUI/DWI. ...
  • Burglary. ...
  • Theft. ...
  • Fraud. ...
  • Robbery. ...
  • Embezzlement.

What city in the US has the most murders?

Which large cities have the most homicides per 100,000 people? The five large cities whose home counties had the highest homicide rates were New Orleans, Louisiana; St. Louis, Missouri; Baltimore, Maryland; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Memphis, Tennessee.

What is the most committed crime in the world?

While theft may be the most common crime globally, it's essential to acknowledge other serious offenses that plague our world: Assault and Violence: From domestic violence to hate crimes, acts of violence cause immense suffering and have long-lasting impacts on individuals and communities.

What is the most common felony in the United States?

By far, one of the most common felonies in the United States is drug crimes. Whether this is possession or trafficking, any time you are discovered with illegal, controlled substances, you will likely face a felony.

What state in the US has the most crime?

1. New Mexico. New Mexico consistently ranks high in violent crime rates, with incidents such as aggravated assault, robbery, and rape being prevalent. The state has a violent crime rate of 780 per 100,000 residents, significantly higher than the national average.

Has crime gone down in 2024?

Early in 2024, Asher noticed cities were largely seeing historic declines in homicide numbers, but much more muted declines in other violent crimes. New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Houston, Detroit, Baltimore and dozens of other cities have reported drops in homicides last year compared to 2023.

What crime is most likely to be reported?

When crimes of violence, crimes of personal theft, and household crimes are completed, they are more likely to be reported to police than attempted crimes. This is particularly true for robbery, burglary, and motor vehicle theft (table 2).

Who is more likely to be assaulted, male or female?

An estimated 91% of victims of rape & sexual assault are female and 9% male. Nearly 99% of perpetrators are male. (1) This US Dept. of Justice statistic does not report those who do not identify in these gender boxes.

What is the most difficult crime to investigate?

Burglary is probably the most difficult to solve because its perpetrators do not have a motive that makes the victim's identity relevant. In most cases, they will elect to steal from an unoccupied home or dwelling, which may leave few, if any, witnesses.

Which country is safest in the world?

Iceland consistently ranks as the safest country in the world, and its safety is rooted in various factors. The country experiences exceptionally low crime rates and has no standing army, relying instead on a small, well-trained police force that is typically unarmed.

What is the least safe city in the US?

Below, find the 10 least safe cities in America.
  • Memphis, TN.
  • Detroit, MI.
  • Fort Lauderdale, FL.
  • Baton Rouge, LA.
  • New Orleans, LA.
  • Baltimore, MD.
  • Cleveland, OH.
  • Oakland, CA.