NCJ Number
59846
Date Published
1978
Length
23 pages
Annotation
A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF 532 YOUNG BLACK MALES AND THEIR PARENTS IN PHILADELPHIA, PA., SHOWED HIGH RATES OF PARENTAL FEAR ABOUT THEIR CHILDRENS' RISKS OF BEING ASSAULTED OR ROBBED IN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.
Abstract
YOUNG MALE SUBJECTS WERE ASKED IF THEY HAD PERSONALLY BEEN THE VICTIM OF ROBBERY, ASSAULT, OR EXTORTION. NEARLY HALF ADMITTED THAT THEY HAD BEEN THE VICTIM OF AT LEAST ONE OF THESE OFFENSES. OF EVEN GREATER SOCIAL IMPORTANCE THAN BEING VICTIMIZED WAS THE FEAR OF CRIME. FEAR OF CRIME WAS PREVALENT REGARDLESS OF PRIOR VICTIMIZATION EXPERIENCES. MAJOR CAUSES OF JUVENILE FEAR FOCUSED ON BEING ROBBED BY AN ADULT, ROBBED BY A GROUP OF TEENAGERS, ASSAULTED BY AN ADULT, ASSAULTED BY A GROUP OF TEENAGERS, MURDERED BY AN ADULT, AND MURDERED BY A GROUP OF TEENAGERS. LOCALITIES WHERE JUVENILES WERE AFRAID INCLUDED STREETS, SCHOOL ROOMS, SCHOOL YARDS, SCHOOL HALLWAYS, PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS, RECREATION CENTERS, MOVIE THEATERS, DANCE HALLS, TROLLEYS OR BUSES, AND SUBWAYS. MEMBERSHIP IN A GANG WAS ASSOCIATED WITH LOWER RATES OF FEAR. ATTEMPTS TO MINIMIZE PARENTAL AND JUVENILE FEAR OF SCHOOL-BASED CRIME INVOLVE (1) RELOCATION OF JUVENILES TO SAFER AREAS AND SAFER SCHOOLS, (2) JOINING A GANG, AND (3) TRUANCY. BEFORE TRUANTS AND DROPOUTS CAN BE DEALT WITH EFFECTIVELY, SCHOOL AUTHORITIES MUST REALIZE THAT THE FEAR OF SCHOOL BRINGS ABOUT EDUCATIONALLY UNDESIRABLE CONDITIONS. SUPPORTING DATA ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)