Fear of Crime and Perceptions of Police

• In Event: Problematizing Policing: Comparing Citizen and Police Perceptions

Abstract

Using data collected from citizens who had an interaction with police in a mid-sized city in the southeastern region, we use their perceived safety as a predictor of police effectiveness. Previous studies have found a citizen’s fear of crime affects their perceptions of the police. Community policing was implemented to increase positive perceptions of the police. Current events have strained some community relations with the police. The purpose of this paper is to add to the discussion on fear of crime (perceived safety) and overall perceptions of police, both globally and locally. The sample is derived from individuals who had an interaction with a local police officer, either through a traffic stop or a call for service. Choosing either a self-administered online survey or a computer assisted telephone interview, respondents answer several questions about the interaction, their perceptions of police locally and globally, and answer questions focusing on neighborhood context. A citizen’s fear of crime and their overall interaction with the police will be a significant predictor for their perceptions of police effectiveness.

Author

• Candace E. Griffith, Augusta University