PROTECTION AGAINST CRIME IN A GHETTO COMMUNITY

• NCJ Number: 29816
• Author(s): P H KLEINMAN; D S DAVID
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 60 pages
• Grant Number(s): NI-71-046-G; 72-NI-99-0008
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Columbia University; Harvard University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EXAMINIATION OF THE EFFORTS MADE BY RESIDENTS IN A HIGH CRIME, HIGH NARCOTIC-ADDICTION, GHETTO - BROOKLYN'S BEDFORD-STUYVESANT/FORT GREENE AREA - TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM CRIME IN THE COMMUNITY.

Abstract

THIS STUDY INVOLVED A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE PATTERNS OF PROTECTION, PERCEPTION OF CRIME, AND VICTIMIZATION OF THE COMMUNITY'S FOUR RACE-ETHNIC GROUPS - AMERICAN BLACKS, BLACKS OF BRITISH WEST INDIAN ORIGIN, PUERTO RICANS, AND WHITES. THE SURVEY SAMPLE CONSISTED OF 145 BRITISH WEST INDIANS, 101 PUERTO RICANS, 275 BLACKS, AND 89 WHITES ALMOST EQUALLY PROPORTIONED BETWEEN MALES AND FEMALES AND PEOPLE UNDER AND OVER 30. STUDY RESULTS REVEALED THAT THE MOST FREQUENTLY PRACTICED MEASURE WITHIN ALL RACE-ETHNIC GROUPS WAS TO WALK ONLY ON CERTAIN STREETS, WITH AT LEAST ONE-THIRD OF THE RESPONDENTS ENGAGING IN THIS PRECAUTION. THE USE OF SPECIAL LOCKS OR ALARMS IN THE HOME WAS MENTIONED NEXT MOST FREQUENTLY BY BRITISH WEST INDIANS, BLACKS, AND WHITES. PUERTO RICANS, RESPONDENTS WHO WERE VICTIMIZED IN THE LAST YEAR, PERSONS WHO PERCEIVED CRIME IN THE AREA AS HIGH, WOMEN, AND OLDER PEOPLE WERE FOUND TO BE MORE LIKELY TO ENGAGE IN TWO OR MORE PROTECTIVE MEASURES. A POSITIVE CORRELATION WAS ALSO INDICATED BETWEEN VISIBILITY AND CONTACT IN THE COMMUNITY (AS MEASURED BY LENGTH OF RESIDENCE IN THE AREA, CHURCH ATTENDANCE, RELATIVES IN THE AREA, BEING OFFERED STOLEN GOODS, AND ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIP) AND USE OF TWO OR MORE PROTECTIVE MEASURES.