NCJ Number
227885
Journal
Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice Volume: 25 Issue: 3 Dated: August 2009 Pages: 264-281
Date Published
August 2009
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study examined perceptions of neighborhood disorder, fear of general crime and gang crimes and resulting precautionary behaviors among a sample of incarcerated youth in Florida.
Abstract
Results of the study indicate that generally, neither girls nor boys saw elements of disorganization and disorder as problems in their neighborhood, which contradicts research indicating that crime is more prevalent in communities plagued with problems of social disorganization and disorder. Girls were generally not more afraid than boys; however, if they were afraid, a higher percentage of them often said they were very afraid. There were no statistical differences in fear of general crime or gang-related crime between girls and boys. There were some significant differences in terms of precautionary behaviors taken to avoid victimization. Boys were more likely to have arranged for a companion so they would not have to be alone. In addition, girls were more likely to avoid areas of their city and their neighborhood. This study adds to the limited number of studies examining fear of crime among incarcerated juvenile offenders. It reports on an exploratory case study of teenage boys and girls who were incarcerated in one of five medium to high-risk juvenile facilities in Florida. The study specifically examined perceptions of disorder, fear of crime, and behavioral precautions among juvenile offenders. Tables, notes, and references