NCJ Number
219279
Journal
Criminal Justice Review Volume: 32 Issue: 2 Dated: June 2007 Pages: 142-155
Date Published
June 2007
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study explored how the influence of criminal victimization and being approached by a drug dealer impacted attitudes about neighborhood safety and about the police in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Abstract
Results indicated that the experience of personal victimization was significantly associated with feeling unsafe, but being approached by a drug dealer had an even stronger impact on perceptions of neighborhood safety. The findings reveal that the most significant factor associated with feeling unsafe and having negative attitudes toward the police were being approached by a drug dealer. The findings suggest that police should investigate ways to improve perceptions of police officers in disadvantaged neighborhoods, which should include a rethinking of the role of the victim for police officers. Future research should draw on longitudinal research to investigate the long-term impact of the key variables under consideration here: personal victimization, perceptions of drug problems, and attitudes toward police. Data were drawn from the baseline data collected for the Empowerment Zone 2010 Initiative designed to improve disadvantaged neighborhoods. A total of 305 Portsmouth and Norfolk, Virginia residents were surveyed about various quality-of-life issues. Variables under examination in the current analysis included attitudes toward the police, perceptions of security, personal victimization, perceptions of drug dealing problems, and demographic information including homeownership, employment, and race. Data were analyzed using ordinal logistic regression models. Tables, notes, references