NCJ Number
84087
Date Published
1982
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Corporate participation in community crime prevention efforts is essential for the maintenance of both a healthy business and a healthy business climate.
Abstract
Community crime affects profits, employee morale, absenteeism, productivity, location and expansion decisions, executive recruitment, and the availability of labor pools and customers. A recent survey conducted by the Joint Economic Committee of the Congress revealed that the perceived quality of life rather than specific business-related characteristics determines whether businesses expand, move, reduce operations, or shut down. One of the most important factors in the perceived quality of life is the crime rate. Crime and the fear of victimization influence employees, affecting work quality, time, and productivity. Victimization rates are highest in the areas from which businesses draw their employees -- central cities and suburbs. The higher the education level, the more likely a person is to be a crime victim. Exposure is increased because employees are away from home daily. Executive recruitment becomes more difficult as the labor pool shrinks in high crime areas. Crime affects business profit potentials. Corporate activism in community crime prevention involves some minor costs, but the experiences of such organizations as Southland Corporation and Hoffman-LaRoche support the view that the cost is justified. Tabular data are included.