NCJ Number
65721
Date Published
1978
Length
32 pages
Annotation
THIS DUTCH REPORT DISCUSSES PUBLIC ATTITUDES ABOUT CRIME AND SOURCES OF THOSE ATTITUDES, PUBLIC FEAR OF CRIME, VICTIMIZATION EFFECTS ON CRIME FEARS, AND CONCERN ABOUT CRIME RATES AMONG VARIED ECONOMIC GROUPS.
Abstract
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, THE PUBLIC IS GREATLY CONCERNED ABOUT INCREASING CRIME RATES AND FEARS. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT CRIME IN GENERAL AND MURDER IN PARTICULAR ARE AMONG THE MOST POPULAR CONVERSATION TOPICS. NEVERTHELESS, PEOPLE ARE LESS AFRAID OF BEING VICTIMS OF CRIME THEMSELVES, ALTHOUGH CONSIDERABLE FEAR OF VIOLENCE EXISTS. STUDIES IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA INDICATE LITTLE CONNECTION BETWEEN PERSONAL FEELINGS OF UNSAFETY AND POLITICAL CONCERN FOR HIGH CRIME RATES EXCEPT IN HIGH CRIME AREAS, WHERE FEAR IS INSPIRED BY VIOLENT CRIME. PURCHASING HOME SAFETY DEVICES IS INFLUENCED MORE BY PERSONS' HAVING A GREAT DEAL OF PROPERTY RATHER THAN BY FEAR OF CRIME. NEVERTHELESS, THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CRIME VICTIMS FEAR CRIME MOST. CONCERN OVER CRIME RATES IS EQUALLY PREVALENT IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS, WITH URBAN DWELLERS REPORTING NO GREATER FEAR OF CRIME, ALTHOUGH CITIES SUFFER GREATER CRIME RATES. ANALYZING FEAR OF CRIME AMONG DIFFERENT SEX, AGE, AND SOCIAL GROUPS YIELDS MANY DIFFERENT RESULTS, WITH WOMEN FEARING CRIME MUCH MORE THAN MEN. THE ARTICLE CONCLUDES WITH A STUDY OF CRIME CONCERN AMONG THE POOR, MIDDLE-AGED, AND ELDERLY; AND DISCUSSION OF CRIME IN THE NEWS MEDIA AND HOW THE PUBLIC ASSIMILATES IT. SINCE FEAR OF CRIME IS INDEPENDENT OF CRIME RATES, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT POLICE FORCES INCREASE PATROLS TO REASSURE PEOPLE. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)