NCJ Number
80748
Date Published
1982
Length
63 pages
Annotation
This study examines the relationship of neighborhood change to crime and fear of crime, using telephone interviews and site visits to eight Chicago neighborhoods.
Abstract
The neighborhoods were chosen because of their variations on three dimensions: crime rates, racial stability, and real estate appreciation rates. The study is based on 3,310 telephone interviews and a questionnaire that elicited responses about victimization experience, fear and perceptions of crime, attitudes toward neighborhood quality and resources, attitudes toward neighborhood investment, and community involvement. The field research evaluated residential and shopping area deterioration. The researchers also attended important neighborhood events, visited stores and gathering places, interviewed knowledgeable informants, and reviewed newspapers and other reports. Findings indicated that the perception of racial and social class change augments the consequences of fear of crime. Succession (movement to the suburbs) results in undesirable consequences for older neighborhoods, including crime, undermining of neighborhood appearance and property values, and disinvestment. Crime prevention programs are most effective when they are part of community organizations' agendas that also deal with succession-related problems, particularly real estate and school issues. Fear of crime alone is not a motivator to long-term collective action. Actions aiding community crime prevention and reducing deterioration include interracial police teams and athletic activities for youth. Since open spaces may increase fear in unstable communities, small parks need visible security arrangements. The study suggests removing litter and reoccupying vacant buildings. A description of the eight neighborhoods, tables, diagrams, and 17 references are provided.