NCJ Number
60803
Journal
Kriminologisches Journal Volume: 10 Issue: 3 Dated: (1978) Pages: 202-214
Date Published
1978
Length
13 pages
Annotation
THE ATTITUDE OF WEST GERMAN CITIZENS TOWARD PUBLIC SAFETY IS ASSESSED IN STUDIES OF TWO SOUTHERN GERMAN TOWNS.
Abstract
DATA ABOUT INDIVIDUALS' WISHES AND VALUES CAN SUPPLEMENT POLICE CRIME STATISTICS AND AID IN EVALUATING PUBLIC REACTION TO MASS MEDIA COVERAGE OF CRIMES WHEN POLITICAL DECISIONS NEED TO BE MADE. SURVEY DATA ANALYSES INDICATE THAT FEAR OF CRIME IS NOT A MAJOR PREOCCUPATION OF INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS AND EVEN THOUGH SECURITY IS A HIGH PRIORITY AMONG CITIZENS, INADEQUATE SECURITY IS NOT VIEWED AS A CONSTANT THREAT. SITUATIONS REGARDED AS MOST DANGEROUS ARE LONELY STREETS AT NIGHT, PARKS, WALKING AREAS AROUND THE CITY EDGES, AND INNER CITIES AREAS. SURVEY RESPONSES SHOW NO CLEAR PREFERENCE FOR REPRESSIVE OR SOCIAL PREVENTIVE MEASURES, ALTHOUGH THE GROUP SUPPORTING STRINGENT PENALTIES IS RELATIVELY LARGE. FURTHERMORE, PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURES ARE NOT AS HIGH A PRIORITY AS MIGHT BE EXPECTED FROM THE EXPRESSED NEED FOR SECURITY. DEMOGRAPHICALLY, WOMEN FEEL MORE ENDANGERED THAN MEN BUT ARE NOT REPRESSIVELY INCLINED, AND OLDER CITIZENS ARE NOT MORE FEARFUL THAN YOUNGER ONES BUT DO SUPPORT REPRESSIVE MEASURES. ALTHOUGH ATTITUDES ARE AFFECTED MORE BY DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS THAN ANY OTHERS, A HIGH LEVEL OF PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS REDUCES THE FEAR LEVEL; NO CONNECTION SEEMS TO EXIST BETWEEN OTHER SOCIAL INTEGRATION FACTORS SUCH AS FAMILY OR NEIGHBORHOOD RELATIONSHIPS AND FEELINGS OF SECURITY. THE THESIS THAT NO CLEAR CONNECTION IS TO BE FOUND BETWEEN ADVOCATED SECURITY MEASURES (E.G., REPRESSION) AND FEAR CAN ONLY BE DEFINITELY PROVEN BY CONSIDERING FURTHER VARIABLES. DATA TABLES, NOTES, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE SUPPLIED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)