NCJ Number
52565
Date Published
1978
Length
22 pages
Annotation
MEANS BY WHICH THE INCREASE IN 'STRANGER-TO-STRANGER' URBAN CRIME HAS BEEN EXAGGERATED ARE INDICATED, AND REVISED POLICE PATROL METHODS WHICH CAN REDUCE THE FEAR OF SUCH CRIMES ARE SUGGESTED.
Abstract
IT IS INDICATED THAT CRIME REPORTS AND MEDIA EMPHASIS HAVE GIVEN THE IMPRESSION THAT URBAN CENTERS HAVE DEGENERATED INTO JUNGLES OF CRIME AND CAN NO LONGER PROVIDE A SECURE ENVIRONMENT FOR DAY-TO-DAY LIVING, ENTERTAINMENT, AND CULTURAL STIMULATION. DISTORTED STATISTICS, AN INCREASE IN REPORTED CRIMES, CHANGING DEFINITIONS OF CRIME, MEDIA SENSATIONALISM ABOUT CRIME, AND THE CONTAGION OF FEAR ARE CITED AS SOME OF THE BASES FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED VIEW OF URBAN ENVIRONMENTS. IT IS ARGUED THAT, IN ACTUALITY, URBAN AREAS CONTINUE TO BE DYNAMIC AND ENTERTAINING CULTURAL, BUSINESS, AND SOCIAL CENTERS. A TREND TOWARD THE RETURN OF YOUNG ADULTS FROM THE SUBURBS TO LIVE IN LARGE CITIES IS CITED. THE FUNCTION OF THE POLICE IN PROVIDING AN ATMOSPHERE OF SOCIAL CONTROL AND SAFETY IN THE CITY IS DISCUSSED. BASED ON A NUMBER OF IDENTIFIED STUDIES, IT IS ARGUED THAT THE INCREASE IN CAR PATROLS, POLICE MOBILITY, RESPONSE TIME, AND ALLOCATION OF PERSONNEL TO AREAS BASED ON CRIME RATES HAVE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY DETERRED CRIME. IT IS BELIEVED THAT MODERN POLICE PATROL METHODS HAVE ONLY SERVED TO FURTHER ISOLATE THE POLICE FROM REGULAR INTERACTION WITH CITIZENS IN PERSONAL ENCOUNTERS THAT NURTURE FEELINGS OF BEING PROTECTED AND AUTHORITATIVELY SUPERVISED IN DAILY ACTIVITIES REQUIRING SOCIAL CONTROL. SUGGESTIONS FOR FOSTERING INCREASED AND IMPROVED INTERACTION OF POLICE WITH RESIDENTS OF THE CITY ARE OFFERED. (RCB)