Urban Youth, Fear of Crime, and Resulting Defensive Actions

• NCJ Number: 153804
• Journal: Adolescence Volume: 29 Issue: 114 Dated: (Summer 1994) Pages: 323-330
• Author(s): J S Williams; B K Singh; B R Singh
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 8 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This paper examined the extent and correlates of defensive action taken by school youth as a result of their fear of crime. Subjects included 1,774 urban students who completed a self-report questionnaire on types of defensive actions taken and predictors.

Abstract

Over 57 percent of the sample indicated they had taken at least one defensive action because of their crime concerns. Collective actions (i.e., leaving lights on and installing security locks) were more common than personal actions. The most frequently cited action response was having an escort when leaving the house at night. Nearly 20 percent of respondents had learned self- defense. Females were over 25 percent more likely than males not to walk alone at night. Youth who lived in subsidized housing, whose perceived safety was low, or who had witnessed or been a victim of a crime were least likely to walk alone at night. 3 tables and 16 references