Identifying latent crimes (extortion) in Mongolia

<jats:p>This article argues that the crime of extortion is characterized by a high degree of latency and is largely unreported in official criminal statistics. Under conditions of limited institutional trust and psychological pressure on victims, a significant portion of these crimes remains outside the scope of legal response. Contemporary criminological research indicates a stable relationship between the level of latent crime and the effectiveness of criminal justice institutions. This study aims to identify the scale of latent extortion in Mongolia by comparing official statistical data with the results of empirical surveys. A mixed methodological approach, combining quantitative and qualitative methods of analysis, is applied to enhance the reliability of the findings. The empirical basis of the study compiles survey results of 120 law enforcement officers and 1 700 citizens of Mongolia. The obtained results reveal a significant gap between recorded and actual rates of extortion, as well as a significant role of factors such as fear, distrust, and legal unawareness in shaping victims’ latent behavior. The findings of this study contribute to the criminological theory of latent crime and can be used to improve crime registration mechanisms and extortion prevention efforts.</jats:p>