Does Community Policing Contribute to Reducing Fear of Crime?

• In Event: Issues in Community-Oriented and Problem-Oriented Policing

Abstract

Community policing has been a central tenet in policing for the past two decades. Along with its popularity, studies have examined its effect on reducing citizen’s fear of crime, one of legitimate objectives of community policing. Regarding fear of crime, previous literature has well documented about the factors affecting fear of crime. While a large body of research has examined the effect of community policing on fear of crime, the results of studies are somewhat mixed. Studies posited that community policing was effective in reducing citizens’ fear of crime. On the other side, others indicated that it had negative impact or no impact. Using two waves of survey data collected from citizen participants of community policing program in Houston, TX, this study attempts to disclose how such program affect citizens’ level of fear of crime. Structural equation modeling is employed for analysis in this study.

Authors

• Jae-Seung Lee, Northern Kentucky University

• Jihong Solomon Zhao, Sam Houston State University

• Heeuk Dennis Lee, Weber State University