NCJ Number
130340
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 18 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1991) Pages: 202-216
Date Published
1991
Length
15 pages
Annotation
The relationship between victimization, fear of crime, demographic characteristics, and attitudes toward participation in an auxiliary policing program is examined in rural and urban residents.
Abstract
Probit regression analysis was performed on data from a 1982 ABC telephone survey of public opinion on crime from 2,464 adult respondents regarding various crime related issues and their place of residence. Results revealed similar models for participation for urban and rural respondents. Fear of crime is affected by victimization experiences and demographic characteristics. In addition, whites, males, and individuals with higher education and incomes are less fearful. These results corroborate previous research findings in studies conducted in urban environments, but contrast with the other studies regarding older rural respondents' expression of lower levels of fear as compared to younger respondents. A comparison of regression coefficients indicates that the impact of independent variables was greatest in the urban environment, particularly with the education and fear variables. Differences between the present results and previous findings emphasize the importance of sex and age variables and the lack of importance of victimization variables in the discussion of fear of victimization and the decision to participate in crime prevention programs. Results indicate similar factors may influence participation in crime prevention in both rural and urban areas. 1 table and 31 references (Author abstract modified)