NCJ Number
16970
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 20 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1974) Pages: 241-244
Date Published
1974
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE EFFECTS OF EXCESSIVE FEAR OF CRIME ON THE PUBLIC AND AMERICAN LIFE STYLES IS DISCUSSED, AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMS TO REDUCE THIS FEAR AS PART OF THE EFFORT TO COMBAT CRIME AND THE EFFECTS OF CRIME IS SUGGESTED.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR ARGUES THAT FEAR OF CRIME, ESPECIALLY OF PERSONAL CRIMES, IS BECOMING MORE PERVASIVE AND THAT IN LIGHT OF ACTUAL CRIME FIGURES, IT IS AN IRRATIONAL FEAR. HE CONTENDS THAT THE AMERICAN MANNER OF PRESENTING CRIME STATISTICS TENDS TO CONTRIBUTE TO AN UNJUSTIFIED FEAR OF CRIME. THE DETRIMENTAL PERSONAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF THE FEAR OF CRIME ARE STRESSED. THE AUTHOR ARGUES THAT PUBLIC POLICY-MAKERS SHOULD MAKE REDUCTION OF THE FEAR OF CRIME AN OBJECT OF ATTENTION JUST AS CRIME REDUCTION IS AN OBJECT OF ATTENTION.