"The Impact of Victimization on Fear," Crime and Delinquency, 33 (January, 1987), p.
135-154.
This report examines the relationship between criminal victimization and fear of crime. Past research has
been surprisingly inconclusive about this issue, and some people's fears have been branded "irrational"
because the two did not appear to be tightly linked. However, the data analyzed here indicate that victimization
affects both fear-related attitudes and behavior in a clear and consistent manner. This report also suggests
that the impact of victimization is relatively uniform. Some research has indicated that certain groups are
especially affected by crime, a claim that might be used to justify special treatment for selected vitims and has
been used to support demands for special "treatment" of selected offenders. However, the strong effects of
victimization registered in these data were not differentially distributed across subgroups. In sum, most
people do learn from their experiences, although other kinds of learning are rational as well.
135-154.
This report examines the relationship between criminal victimization and fear of crime. Past research has
been surprisingly inconclusive about this issue, and some people's fears have been branded "irrational"
because the two did not appear to be tightly linked. However, the data analyzed here indicate that victimization
affects both fear-related attitudes and behavior in a clear and consistent manner. This report also suggests
that the impact of victimization is relatively uniform. Some research has indicated that certain groups are
especially affected by crime, a claim that might be used to justify special treatment for selected vitims and has
been used to support demands for special "treatment" of selected offenders. However, the strong effects of
victimization registered in these data were not differentially distributed across subgroups. In sum, most
people do learn from their experiences, although other kinds of learning are rational as well.
"Making Better Use of Victims and Witnesses," in William Geller (ed.) Police
Leadership in America. New York: Praeger, 1985, 332-339.
Commissioning a series of essays on political focusing on "getting serious about crime control" might imply
that the principal route to that end is through law enforcement. This could be true, but not if new energies are
simply appended to the usual modes of policing. Rather, even at the heart of the traditional police function–
solving crimes and apprehending criminals–the most cost-effective innovations must necessarily encourage
more citizen involvement in keeping the peace. This is because citizens hold a virtual monopoly over the key
item necessary to succeed in combating crime: information. Understanding how much and what kind of
information is out there and organizing to gather and use it more effectively could be the key to making
significant gains in real police productivity.
Leadership in America. New York: Praeger, 1985, 332-339.
Commissioning a series of essays on political focusing on "getting serious about crime control" might imply
that the principal route to that end is through law enforcement. This could be true, but not if new energies are
simply appended to the usual modes of policing. Rather, even at the heart of the traditional police function–
solving crimes and apprehending criminals–the most cost-effective innovations must necessarily encourage
more citizen involvement in keeping the peace. This is because citizens hold a virtual monopoly over the key
item necessary to succeed in combating crime: information. Understanding how much and what kind of
information is out there and organizing to gather and use it more effectively could be the key to making
significant gains in real police productivity.
Victim Research Abstracts
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