Snitching Vs Reporting

For young people, reporting crime can be a difficult decision. 

One way you can assist is to help the young person to detach themselves from the information – it’s not about them but about the information they have. 

When someone reports something to keep others safe, whether to a trusted adult, the police or Fearless.org, they are being an active bystander. 

It is important to change the narrative of crime reporting when talking to young people about passing on information they may have about a crime. 

They are not being a snitch; they are helping make their community, friends and family safe. They are creating a safer place for everyone to live. 

The word snitching carries a lot of negativity. No young person wants to be called a snitch or to be known as a snitch. 

The following table can be used to help young people identify the differences between snitching and reporting. It highlights how reporting crime has positive outcomes and is done for positive reasons.