NCJ Number
127576
Journal
Sociological Focus Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Dated: (February 1988) Pages: 69-85
Date Published
1988
Length
17 pages
Annotation
Over 200 residents in five neighborhoods of Dayton, Ohio, were interviewed by telephone regarding their fear of crime in their areas in day and at night. The selected neighborhoods were demographically diverse and experienced varying levels of crime.
Abstract
In general, the findings associating individual characteristics and fear of crime corroborated earlier studies. The elderly, women, blacks, and persons who live alone are more afraid. Blacks are more fearful during the day than whites; this fear is more closely related to violent crime rates than total crime rates. Long-term residents who have watched significant changes occurring in their environment are more fearful of crime, as are better educated residents who feel a lack of control. Fear levels must be understood through an analysis of the interaction between individual and neighborhood characteristics and an examination of factors that lead to a sense of loss of control. 2 tables, 2 figures, 1 note, and 22 references (Author abstract modified)