NCJ Number
160843
Journal
Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice Volume: 12 Issue: 1 Dated: (February 1996) Pages: 69-80
Date Published
1996
Length
12 pages
Annotation
As part of a larger study of reported and unreported crime on the campus of East Carolina University, a survey was conducted during the spring of 1994 to determine the level of reported and unreported sex-related offenses and the relationship of such experiences to the students' overall fear of crime and the avoidance of night classes.
Abstract
The survey involved a sample of 760 respondents. The first part of the questionnaire consisted of 39 questions and requested demographic data, opinions, and attitudes toward the Campus Public Safety Department and the Greenville Police Department as well as questions as to whether the student respondent had been a victim of certain types of criminal behaviors. If a respondent indicated having been the victim of an offense, he/she was asked to complete a Supplemental Incident Report for each incident. In spite of the relatively low reported crime rate on the East Carolina University campus, students in the sample expressed a high level of concern about becoming victims of personal crime. Overall, 86.2 percent of the total sample showed a "high" level of concern about personal crime. A total of 26.8 percent of the sample indicated they avoided night classes because of fear of crime. The survey suggests two major problem areas: the concern about becoming a victim of personal crime and the desire to avoid night classes. Educational programs will not eliminate personal crimes on campuses, but they may help to reduce the numbers. With better information, perhaps fewer men and women will consider it acceptable to take sexual advantage of another person. Administrative policies and procedures that target prevention are perhaps the best solution for the reduction of the number of sexual and personal crimes on campus. 3 tables and 15 references