Reporting On-Campus Crime Online: User Intention to Use

National surveys demonstrate that millions of crimes go unreported in the United States. Several reasons may contribute to this lack of reporting and we are investigating these potential reasons and how they may be addressed. We are developing an online system that provides an anonymous and secure mechanism for both victims and witnesses to report crimes to police. The system is being implemented and tested on a university campus. Potential users (i.e., students, staff) were surveyed to determine their intent to use the system. Respondents claimed to report crimes already, which is in contrast with the findings from the national surveys. Our respondents found the online system useful, accessible, and safe to report crime, but the type of crime and the urgency of response is a determinant in the decision to use the system versus reporting it to a live person