NCJ Number
45672
Date Published
1976
Length
30 pages
Annotation
A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH TO CONSIDER THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF CITIZENS TO THE PRODUCTION OF COMMUNITY SAFETY AND SECURITY IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE CONCEPT OF COMMUNITY SAFETY AND SECURITY IS MULTIDIMENSIONAL, AND MEASUREMENT OF THE LEVEL OF SAFETY AND SECURITY REQUIRES MULTIPLE INDICATORS. MEASURES MAY REFLECT THE PROBABILITY OF LOSS, THE EXPECTED VALUE OF LOSS, AND CITIZEN PERCEPTIONS OF AND ATTITUDES TOWARD THE LEVEL OF RISK IN THE COMMUNITY. OPERATIONAL MEASURES MIGHT INCLUDE THE PROPORTION OF RESIDENTS UNABLE TO OBTAIN CRIME, INSURANCE, THE PROBABILIY OF BEING VICTIMIZED, THE AVERAGE VALUE OF PROPERTY LOSSES RESULTING FROM RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY, THE PROPORTION OF RESIDENTS REPORTING DISSATISFACTION WITH POLICE RESPONSE, AND THE PROPORTION REPORTING CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR DUE TO FEAR OF VICTIMIZATION. CITIZEN CONTRIBUTIONS TO COMMUNITY SAFETY AND SECURITY OCCUR WITHIN A COMPLEX ENVIRONMENT INVOLVING THE ACTIVITIES OF NUMEROUS AGENTS AND PARTICIPANTS IN THE PRODUCTION PROCESS. A PRODUCTION FUNCTION IS PRESENTED AS A CONCEPTUAL TOOL FOR ARRAYING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF CITIZENS AND OTHERS IN THE PRODUCTION OF COMMUNITY SAFETY AND SECURITY. TYPES OF CITIZENS CONTRIBUTIONS INCLUDE INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITIES, GROUP OR JOINT ACTIVITIES, AND ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN IN DIRECT COOPERATION WITH POLICE. IN CONSIDERING THE PRODUCTION OF COMMUNITY SAFETY AND SECURITY AND THE FORMS WHICH CITIZEN CONTRIBUTIONS TAKE, THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ARISE: UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES ARE CITIZENS LIKELY TO INVEST IN SAFETY AND SECURITY ACTIVITIES? WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF CITIZEN CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE ANALYSIS OF RESOURCE ALLOCATION IN PRODUCING COMMUNITY SAFETY AND SECURITY? REASONS FOR INCLUDING CITIZEN CONTRIBUTIONS IN SUCH ANALYSES ARE CITED. (LKM)