Poster #158 - The role of fear of crime in the police trust model: Focusing on the Korean context

• In Event: Saturday Poster Luncheon

Abstract

In the West, the influential variables that predict trust in the police are largely divided into ‘instrumentality’ and ‘expressiveness’. This study took an integrated approach to the ‘expressive model’ and ‘instrumental model’ and applied it to the domestic context. Specifically, we sought to systematically examine the effect of disorder perception(expressive approach) on trust in the police according to the level(interval) of fear of crime(instrumental approach). To this end, we examine the specific moderate level of fear of crime in detail according to specific values ​​using the Johnson-Neyman analysis technique.  For this purpose, the ‘National Crime Victim Survey’ of the Korean Institute of Criminology and Justice was utilized, and the specific analysis results are as follows. First of all, it was found that both perception of disorder and fear of crime can be important indicators predicting trust in the police. In other words, it was found that the higher the perception of disorder and the fear of crime, the lower the trust in the police. However, when the level of fear of crime was involved, the relationship between the perception of disorder and trust in the police was ‘nonlinear’ and showed differential influence depending on the specific section. This shows that the application of the ‘expressive model’ to the domestic context cannot be regarded as so-called ‘general’. In addition, it was shown that in the upper range of fear of crime, the perception of disorder can actually increase trust in the police, suggesting that selective public security administration may be necessary according to the level of fear of crime.

Author

• Seoho Lee, SungKyunKwan University
  Presenting Author