NCJ Number
181111
Date Published
1999
Length
36 pages
Annotation
This national survey looked at fear of crime and safety of the person and in the home, family, neighborhood, and community, with a view to effective crime prevention measures.
Abstract
The survey involved 702 telephone interviews with adults in August-September 1999. Survey results were weighted to U.S. Census statistics for gender, education, and geographic region. One in eight respondents said they were more fearful of walking in their neighborhoods in 1999 than in 1998, and 1 in 5 said they somewhat or definitely curbed their activities due to fear of crime. Three in ten respondents identified violence as a major problem, and 26 percent said gun violence was a problem. Six in ten worried more in 1999 than in 1998 about the safety of children. About 70 percent of respondents reported they did not curb their activities at all during 1999 due to fear of crime. However, fear caused people to make a number of changes, such as locking doors more frequently, becoming less trusting of strangers, avoiding certain areas of the community, going out less, and installing a home security system. Still, many respondents failed to employ personal prevention strategies that could reduce their personal and household crime risks. Women were more likely than men to have changed activities or to become more fearful because of crime, and women were more likely than men to take preventive measures in their personal lives. Only 6 in 10 respondents said they felt very safe in the workplace, and only 52 percent, felt safe when commuting. About 43 percent of respondents said their communities had Neighborhood Watch programs. More than half of respondents could name at least one program in their community that prevents crime. Respondents felt strongly that moral and religious beliefs can help people from committing crime, and 23 percent said they volunteered in a crime prevention program. 25 figures