NCJ Number
139066
Journal
EuroCriminology Volume: 1 Dated: (1987) Pages: 31-42
Date Published
1987
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Feelings of insecurity and the perception that the risk of victimization is high are reflected in fear of crime.
Abstract
Research on the idea of insecurity can be related to research on victimization. In a Belgium study, for example, 9.3 percent of the people interviewed indicated that the risk of aggression was a main source of worry. Feelings of insecurity were not equal throughout the population, although all social classes were affected. Other research demonstrates that the perception of the risk of becoming a crime victim is very different from the statistical evaluation of this risk. Fear of crime seems to be strongest among those who are in least danger. Thus, elderly people are much more afraid than young people of crime, but the elderly constitute a proportionately smaller segment of the victimized population. Fear of crime also appears to be more apparent among persons who have a low educational level. Finally, the media play a significant role in promoting or minimizing fear of crime. 12 footnotes and 4 tables