Transcript CH-7 - Sierra College Administration of Justice Department

AJ 58 – Community and
Human Relations
Chapter 7 –
Community Policing
and Fear of Crime
Fear of Crime
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Which is worse, fear of crime or crime itself?
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Who are the victims of “fear of crime”?
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Why?
Examples of how fear of crime affects people and
the community?
Individuals, family, friends, whole community
Damage or harm caused?
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Economic, social, etc.
Historical Perspective
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Little emphasis by LE on addressing fear of crime
and victimization
During more turbulent 1960’s, media began
publicizing crime and its effects
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Greater fear of victimization
Crime became strong political issue
Victims’ Movement
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Initially focused on how victims contributed to their own
victimization
Recognized true victims of crime as individuals, not just the
“People of the State”
Victim-Rights Movement
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Victims’ rights advocates recognized that victims
were being treated unfairly by CJS
Primary Victimization
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Victim of actual criminal act
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Harm caused by criminal
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Rape, Robbery, Burglary, etc.
Physical injury, financial loss, etc.
Secondary Victimization
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Victim of criminal justice process
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Long interviews, main concern for catching criminal
Harm caused by CJS itself
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Lack of concern for victim’s health and well-being
The 60’s and 70’s
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Increase in crime and media attention raised
public fear of crime
Public also concerned with treatment of
victims by police
Two factors that made CJS address these
concerns
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Victimization Surveys
Flint Foot Patrol Experiment
The Figgie Report (1980)
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One of first national victimization surveys to examine
level of fear of crime in US and established two
barometers of fear…
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Concrete Fear
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Formless Fear
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Fear of specific crimes, such as FBI Index Crimes
Feeling or sense of fear due to local crime/disorder
Figgie results - Part I Offenses
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Murder - 17%
Rape - 55% (women)
Robbery - 23%
Aggravated Assault - 24%
Concrete Fear
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Groups reporting greatest Concrete Fear
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Residents of large cities
Young people
Women
Higher education
African-Americans
Can you explain the reasons why each of
these groups is on this list???
Formless Fear
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Survey questions regarding safety felt…
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Groups reporting greatest formless fear
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At home, out shopping, in neighborhood
Day and night
Low income
Blue-collar workers
Lower education
Part-time workers
Marital loss
Elderly
Explanations???
Key Predictors to Fear-of-Crime
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Victimization
Exposure to information about crime
Social Disadvantage
Isolation
Which of these predictors corresponds to
each of the groups reporting high fear of
crime?
Flint, Michigan
Foot Patrol Experiment (1979)
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$2.6 million grant to MSU
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Project covered 14 diverse neighborhoods
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No crime prevention programs in Flint at time
Police were fairly detached from citizens
Reliance on traditional motorized patrols and
response to calls for service
Wide variance of socio-economic status
22 officers assigned to foot-patrol beats
Foot Patrol Experiment Objectives
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Decrease actual or perceived crime
Increase perception of personal safety
Provide modernized law enforcement to meet community
needs
Create community awareness of crime and increase ability
of police to respond
Develop citizen volunteers to assist targeting specific
crimes
Eliminate citizen apathy about reporting crimes
Increase protection of women, children, and elderly
Foot Patrol Experiment Results
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One of first studies to include “fear of crime”
After three years of project…
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70% of those surveyed reported feeling safer
Felt especially safe when foot patrol officer was
well known and highly visible
Perception of safety increased during each of first
three years
Fear of Crime
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What is fear-of-crime?
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Emotional reaction including sense of danger and
anxiety produced by fear of physical harm
Fear elicited by perceived environmental cues
somehow related to crime
Figgie Report and Flint Experiment helped
lay foundation for modern CP programs
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Recognized that fear of crime can impede positive
relations between Community and Police
Fear of Crime (continued)
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Level of fear determined by…
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Information received regarding crime
Impressions of extent of crime
Risk incurred in daily life
Options available to avoid/cope with potential victimization
Components of Threat of Victimization
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Emotional = generalized fear of real/perceived crimes
Cognitive = perceived risk/assessment of danger
Behavioral = constrained activities/lifestyle changes
Fear-of-Crime vs. Victimization
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Comparisons yield inconsistencies
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Young males most likely to be victims but less
fearful than older males
More people report fear of crime than are actually
victimized
Fear patterns differ from victimization patterns
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Actual crime small part of fear of crime
Majority of people feel some fear of crime but
do not take any direct action as result
Costs of Fear-of-Crime
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Destroys sense of community
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Wealthy take protective actions/move away
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May lead to lack of reporting, vigilantism, etc.
Detrimental psychological effects on citizens
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Impedes workable solutions
Undermines citizens’ faith in police and CJS
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More crime against the poor
Hardens attitudes towards criminals/poor
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Perception of “dangerous areas” to avoid in community
Especially if coupled with societal disorder/decay
Change of lifestyle/habits
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Stay at home, purchase personal protection, firearms, etc.
Fear-of-Crime Theories
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Victimization Model
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One’s direct and indirect experiences with crime and
victimization affect fear of crime
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Personal experiences
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Experiences with other victims
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Being a victim oneself
Family, friends, neighbors
Perceived vulnerability to victimization
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Media reporting crime
Fear-of-Crime Theories
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Disorder Model
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Fear of crime produced by person’s perception of disorder
in areas where they live, work, shop, recreate, and travel
Follows Broken Windows thesis
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As disorder increases…
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Deterioration, vandalism, loitering, etc. = fear of safety
People stay at home more/break ties with community
Move away… disorder increases
Fear of gangs even stronger than fear of crime!
Fear-of-Crime Theories
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Community Concern Model
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Fear related to dynamics of community
Takes into consideration feelings/attitudes about
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Social change
Dissatisfaction with neighborhood life
Unease about life’s circumstances
Focus on social interaction and community
processes
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Neighborhood cohesion, deterioration, etc.
Fear-of-Crime Theories
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Cultural-Diversity Model
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Fear somewhat result of living near others of
different cultural backgrounds
Heterogeneity/Diversity = increase in fear
Ignorance of others’ culture/customs produces
tension and fear
BJS Survey Results (2003)
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Percentages of those responding “frequently” or
“occasionally”
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Burglary
Car broken into
Terrorism38%
Child harmed
Mugged
Sexual Assault
Murder
Hate Crime
48%
45%
35%
28%
23%
18%
17%
Refer to chart (p. 216)
Fear-of-Crime Factors
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Victimization
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Mixed results
Other factors also important
Varies by individual, personality, age, gender, etc.
Community Policing Response
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Target fear-of-crime
Awareness of behavioral dynamics
Fear-of-Crime Factors
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Gender
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Women more fearful of victimization than males
Less risk-taking, but more vulnerable
Underreporting of sexual assaults, DV, etc.
Vicarious fear of children’s safety
Community Policing Response
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Target crimes against women
Safe public areas for children’s recreation
Training/support services for women
Fear-of-Crime Factors
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Age
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Second leading predictor of fear
Elderly tend to self-isolate from society
Higher levels of fear in high-crime areas, but normal fear
levels in non-high-crime areas
Lower fear levels where more elderly live together
Community Policing Response
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Focus on elderly in high-crime/disorder areas
Recommend elderly-only living situations
Focus on disorder which may lead to fear
Fear-of-Crime Factors
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Race
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Homicide leading cause of death for young AfricanAmericans
High levels of poverty & crime, however…
Young African-Americans do not report high fear of crime…
older African-Americans do
Community Policing Response
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Improve relations in impoverished areas
Assure citizens police there to help/support
Maintain high visibility/availability
Fear-of-Crime Factors
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Media
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Media & Public love sensational crime
Distorted coverage emphasizes pathological acts
Creates bias, causing public to think crime worse than it
really is
Media portrayal of crime, including some “cop shows”,
aggravates fear of crime
Community Policing Response
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Encourage media-balanced presentation of crime
Encourage more human-interest stories about police
Fear-of-Crime Factors
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Personal Wealth
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Personal wealth/wealthy neighborhood = less fear
Governmental influence from rich/powerful
More rapid, effective response from police in
neighborhoods with less crime anyway
Better able to rebound from victimization, shorter
recovery time
Community Policing Efforts
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Recognition of reducing fear-of-crime as legitimate goal of
police services
Addressing property crime, petty crime, and disorder reduces
fear of crime and helps people regain control of community
Police can help link…
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Those with emotional problems to counseling
Homeless to shelters
Panhandlers to job-search services
Juveniles to after-school programs
Most effective tactic?
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Increase positive contacts between police and community!