Fear of Crime among Gang and Non-Gang Offenders: Comparing the Effects of Perpetration, Victimization, and Neighborhood Factors

• NCJ Number: 240216
• Journal: Justice Quarterly Volume: 29 Issue: 4 Dated: August 2012 Pages: 491-523
• Author(s): Jodi Lane; Kathleen A. Fox
• Date Published: August 2012
• Length: 33 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Soc for the Psychological Study of Social Issues
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined adult offenders' fear of property, personal, and gang crime.

Abstract

This is the first study to examine adult offenders' fear of property, personal, and gang crime. The authors examined 5 research questions among 2,414 jail inmates, focusing on how afraid offenders are of crime. The authors compared current, ex-gang, and non-gang members. The authors asked if more experience with crime perpetration and victimization and more perceptions of social disorganization increased offenders' fear of crime. Finally, the authors asked if the importance of these factors in predicting fear varied by gang status. Results show that offenders, generally, were not very afraid of crime. Although ex-gang and current gang members believed they were more likely to experience property, personal, and gang crime, they reported less fear than non-gang members. Crime perpetration did not influence offenders' fear, but less experience with personal crime victimization predicted fear of personal and gang crime among non-gang members. The results also indicate that perceptions of social disorganization better explain fear among non-gang members than ex-gang and current gang members. Abstract published by arrangement with Taylor and Francis.