Crime And Safety In Rural Areas: The Case Of Biobio And Valparaiso Regions In Chile

• In Event: Advances in Rural Criminology: Cross-National Perspectives on Rural Criminology

Abstract

This presentation reports rural crime within the Biobio and Valparaiso Regions of Chile, based on a survey of 105 residents aged 18 and above from 15 mixed and rural municipalities. The study employs a questionnaire to examine aspects such as victimization, fear of crime, perceptions of misdemeanors, attitudes toward police, and crime prevention measures. Data were collected through telephone interviews using the Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) system during January and February of 2023. Further insights were obtained from interviews with former high-ranking police officials and crime prevention authorities, focusing on public policies and programs aimed at rural crime. The findings illuminate the complexities of rural crime and its impact on communities, contributing to the discourse on effective crime prevention and public safety strategies in rural settings.

Authors

• Felipe Salazar-Tobar, Rutgers University

• Alejandra Luneke, Universidad Alberto Hurtado