Fear of Crime and Related Perceptions in Florida -- 1996, Final Report

• NCJ Number: 168053
• Author(s): D Maier-Katkin
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 88 pages
• Grant Number(s): 94-DB-CX-0012
• Sponsoring Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
• Corporate Author: Florida State University
• Sale Source: NCJRS Photocopy Services; Florida Dept of Community Affairs
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

In 1996, a random sample of 3,000 Florida adults was selected for a telephone survey of fear of crime (FEAR) and perceived risk of victimization.

Abstract

Survey respondents were asked to rate FEAR using a 10-point scale ranging from not at all fearful to very fearful. Two scores were computed from survey questions, a fear of crime score and a fear of violent crime score. Perceived risk of victimization was measured using a 10-point scale ranging from not at all likely to very likely. The survey also contained questions on satisfaction with local law enforcement, concern about particular crimes, worry about children, perceptions of teenagers and teenage criminals, and what should be done about juvenile crime. For Florida as a whole, FEAR was moderate. Average FEAR levels were substantially higher for Hispanics and blacks than for whites. FEAR among women was almost 50 percent higher than FEAR among men. Young Floridians between 18 and 34 years of age were the most fearful, while older Floridians over 65 years of age were the least fearful. Having recent victimization experiences elevated FEAR, but FEAR did not increase in relation to city crime rates until those rates became twice as high as the State average. The average perceived risk of victimization for all Floridians was lower than FEAR measured on a similar scale. The percent rating victimization as likely varied by crime, as follows: burglary when away from home, burglary when home, auto theft, robbery, murder, and sexual assault of women. About 77 percent of respondents were satisfied with the level of police protection, a high level of concern was expressed about drug trafficking, women tended to worry about their children more than men and worry declined as respondent income increased, 91 percent of respondents felt teenagers were becoming more violent, and 83 percent of respondents favored more discipline in the home to reduce juvenile crime. Appendixes contain detailed survey data and the survey instrument. Tables and figures