NCJ Number
154509
Journal
Juristat Volume: 15 Issue: 9 Dated: (March 1995) Pages: complete issue
Date Published
1995
Length
21 pages
Annotation
According to the 1993 General Social Survey, one in four Canadians stated they felt somewhat or very unsafe walking alone in their neighborhoods after dark; when asked for a general assessment of their personal safety, however, the overall response pattern was relatively positive.
Abstract
Fully 86 percent of Canadians stated they were very or somewhat satisfied with their general safety, while only 11 percent indicated they were very or somewhat dissatisfied. Women were more than four times as likely as men to say they felt somewhat or very unsafe walking alone in their area after dark and about three times as likely to say they were very or somewhat worried when home alone in the evening. There was mixed evidence for the view that fear of crime was a more serious problem for the elderly. Overall, persons aged 65 years and over were almost twice as likely to feel unsafe when walking alone in the area after dark than those between 15 and 24 years of age. However, when older Canadians were asked questions about their daily lives, there was little evidence to indicate that fear increased with age. Fear of walking alone after dark was highest among victims of sexual assault, followed by robbery, breaking and entering, assault, vandalism, motor vehicle theft, and household theft. To protect themselves or their property from crime, 38 percent of Canadians said they changed their activities or avoided certain places, 32 percent installed new locks, 15 percent installed burglar alarms, 12 obtained a dog, 10 percent took a self-defense course, 9 percent changed their phone number, and 2 percent purchased a gun. 16 references and 9 tables