Fear of Crime: Interim Results of a Finnish National Survey (From Victims and Criminal Justice, P 595-616, 1991, Gunther Kaiser, Helmut Kury, et al., eds. -- See NCJ-132477)

• NCJ Number: 132499
• Author(s): M Heiskanen; R Lattila; S Seppanen
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 22 pages
• Sale Source: Max-Planck-Institute Fur Auslandisches und Internationales Strafrecht
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: Germany (Unified)

Annotation

This report highlights results of a portion of a Finnish victimization survey regarding fear of property crime and violent crime.

Abstract

The five questions that pertain to fear of crime focus on fear of crime in general by strangers, fear of specific crimes by strangers, and specific precautions respondents have taken to protect themselves from victimization. Data were obtained from interviews with a national sample of the adult (15 years and older) population. One adult Finn out of three is afraid of being a victim of violence, and approximately the same number are concerned about being victims of property crimes. The fear was greatest in urban areas. Women younger than 35 years old were the most worried about being the victims of violence outdoors at night. Respondents most afraid of being victims of sexual harassment or rape were women 20 to 34 years old who lived in the Helsinki metropolitan area and were cohabiting. Of all respondents, 54 percent were worried that a family member or a close acquaintance would be the victim of violence. Thirty-seven percent of the women and 30 percent of the men were concerned about somebody breaking into their homes. One Finn out of 10 has taken some precaution against being the victim of violence, and over 50 percent resort to some kind of measure to protect their property. 3 tables, 14 figures, and 6 references