Willingness to report crime and confidence in the police and legal system influence the rate of reported crime. Over half of U.S citizens feel that they can report crime to the police, and 73% have confidence in the police and the legal system. In addition to this, the United States has the highest ranking for belief in police efficiency with 89% of respondents stating that the police do a good job in controlling crime in their area.

The 2002 National Crime Victimization Survey conducted by the United States Bureau of Justice Statistics showed that total violent victimization and property crime rates in the U.S. were lower that year than they had been any year since the survey started in 1973. Between 1993 and 2002, the violent crime rate declined 54 percent and the property crime rate decreased by 50 percent.

This decrease is even more dramatic when you consider that an estimated 49 percent of violent crimes and 40 percent of property crimes were reported to police. In 1993, reporting rates were estimated at 43 percent for violent crimes and 34 percent for property crimes.