DIMENSIONS OF COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO THE CRIME PROBLEM

• NCJ Number: 17055
• Journal: Social Problems Volume: 18 Issue: 3 Dated: (WINTER 1971) Pages: 373-385
• Author(s): J E CONKLIN
• Date Published: 1971
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: Soc for the Study of Social Problems
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPRINT

Annotation

THIS PAPER INVESTIGATES SOME OF THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PERCEPTIONS OF CRIME AND INDIVIDUALS' ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR IN TWO COMMUNITIES IN A METROPOLITAN AREA IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES.

Abstract

A SAMPLE FROM A HIGH CRIME RATE URBAN AREA AND A SAMPLE FROM A LOW CRIME RATE SUBURBAN AREA ARE COMPARED. THE URBAN SAMPLE PERCEIVES HIGHER LOCAL CRIME RATES THAN THE SUBURBAN SAMPLE, AND IT ALSO FEELS SAFE, LESS TRUSTFUL OF OTHERS, AND LESS POSITIVE AFFECT FOR THE COMMUNITY THAN THE SUBURBAN SAMPLE. RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PERCEPTION OF CRIME AND THE DIMENSIONS OF RESPONSE ARE STRONGER IN THE URBAN SAMPLE THAN IN THE SUBURBAN SAMPLE, SUGGESTING A THRESHOLD EFFECT MAY BE OPERATING, WITH PERCEPTION OF CRIME AFFECTING DIMENSIONS OF COMMUNITY LIFE ONLY AFTER THAT PERCEPTION HAS PASSED A CERTAIN LEVEL. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)