NCJ Number
197568
Date Published
2002
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This chapter explores an understanding of community safety within the broader context of late modern society while addressing the following question: for whom is social life fragmenting?
Abstract
A central feature of this exploration is the need to understand the contemporary nature of relationships of trust. Such relationships can be explored in a number of different ways and may be manifested on a number of different levels. The key variable examined by the author is "place" and the key level is the "social." The chapter first reviews the literature on "trust" and its relevance for criminology. It then offers two case studies from Great Britain to illustrate the kinds of questions raised by an exploration of trust relationships. The chapter concludes with a consideration of the implications of these questions for the relationship between policing and community safety. The author argues that social life and trust are fragmenting for those whose self-esteem suffers from poor job prospects, low income, and debt. Such people have only family and kinship ties as the context for building trust. Those with economic resources and socioeconomic status tend to have the political access to make sure their voices are heard in the larger community. Community safety occurs when all segments of the community trust that the police as well as other institutions that impact the quality of life in the community understand the dynamics of their needs and are using the resources available to them to meet those needs. When communities lack such trusting interactions, the stage is set for crime and disorder. 22 references