NCJ Number
111459
Date Published
1988
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This exploration of fear of crime as a problem to be addressed by the police looks at the causes of fear, economic and societal consequences of fear, and police strategies for reducing fear.
Abstract
The main features of fear are that it is widespread, has decreased since the mid-1970's, and is not evenly distributed across the population. Fear is primarily caused by (1) actual criminal victimization, (2) second-hand information about criminal victimization distributed through social networks, (3) physical deterioration and social disorder, (4) characteristics of the built environment, and (5) group conflict. The societal and economic consequences of fear are that it makes people uncomfortable emotionally, and that it motivates people to invest time and money in defensive measures to reduce their vulnerability. Police strategy to combat crime is comprised of motorized patrol, rapid response to calls for service, and retrospective investigations of crimes. Response time is not a significant factor in citizen satisfaction. In a Kansas City study of motorized patrol, it was found that increased foot patrol reduced citizens' fears. Some other programs that successfully reduced citizens' fears were a police community newsletter designed to give accurate crime information to citizens, a citizen contact program, and a police community contact center. The one clear implication of both the foot patrol and fear reduction programs is that closer contact between citizens and police officers reduces fear. 40 notes.