Exploratory Study on Perceptions of Safety, Fear of Crime, and Victimization Experiences Among Faculty and Staff at an Urban University: A Focus on Gender

• NCJ Number: 234913
• Journal: Criminal Justice Studies Volume: 24 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2011 Pages: 37-55
• Author(s): Angela R. Gover; Elizabeth A. Tomsich; Wesley G. Jennings; George E. Higgns
• Date Published: March 2011
• Length: 19 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: University of Colorado Denver, Ctr for Faculty Development's Faculty Development Grant Program
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This exploratory study examines the issue of campus crime with a convenience sample of 507 faculty and staff at a mid-sized urban university in Colorado.

Abstract

Workplace crime in a university context has unique vulnerabilities, such as the context of labor in a large, open, publicly accessed environment. Crime and victimization on college campuses has received a considerable amount of empirical attention, with the majority of studies utilizing student samples. In order to comprehensively understand how crime impacts the overall campus environment, it is important to also look at these issues from the perspectives of faculty and staff. Results of the current study indicate that nearly 31 percent of the faculty and staff respondents reported experiencing crime on campus since the onset of their employment at the university. Additionally, results are compared among male and female faculty and staff, since prior research has demonstrated that one's gender affects attitudes and behavior regarding crime and victimization. Implications for policy and suggestions for future research are discussed. (Published Abstract)