Neighborhood Crime, Fear and Social Control - A Second Look at the Hartford Program

• NCJ Number: 80949
• Author(s): F J Fowler; T W Mangione
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 194 pages
• Grant Number(s): 79-NI-AX-0026
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Justice (NIJ); US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Ctr for Survey Research
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The report presents findings and implications from a reevaluation of a project to reduce burglary, robbery, and the fear of these crimes in the Asylum Hill section of Hartford, Conn.

Abstract

The major project activities included building cul-de-sacs on some neighborhood streets and making others one-way, to reduce the use of residential streets by motorists passing through the area. A neighborhood police team was created together with a police advisory committee of resident representatives to strengthen the relationship between police and residents and increase police attention to neighborhood problems and concerns. In addition, formal neighborhood organizations were founded and strengthened to provide effective ways for residents to work on neighborhood problems. The program was initially evaluated in 1977 after it had been operating for about a year. At that time, the burglary rate in the neighborhood had dropped well below expected levels, as did the residents' fear of this crime; the robbery rate also declined. In 1979, 3 years after initial implementation, police manpower was significantly reduced in the program, and the number of arrests, which had risen when the program began, dropped sharply. However, the community organizations remained active, and the street changes remained in place. Informal social controls increased in the target area -- residents reported using the neighborhood more, being more aware of strangers, and intervening in suspicious situations more often. However, the levels of burglary and robbery increased between 1977 and 1979, returning to about the levels predicted from citywide trends. Thus, findings show that increased informal social control in an urban neighborhood does not by itself produce crime reduction. Heightened police activity is a necessary element for actual crime reduction. Fear of crime, however, remained low compared to citywide trends and residents were optimistic about improvements in security and other neighborhood conditions in the future. Findings thus indicate that fear of crime in an area is more related to its physical and social character than to its actual crime rate. Tables, figures, and 23 citations are included. Study instruments and data are appended. For the executive summary, see NCJ 80950. (Author abstract modified)