Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Predictors Of Fear Of Crime And The Relationship Of Crime Rates And Fear Of Crime, Jennifer Truman

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

Research has shown that demographic characteristics, media exposure, perceived risk to crime, and victimization are associated with a person's perception of crime. Also, many times a person's perception of crime does not coincide with the actual crime rates. Using data from a survey of 315 college students, this study examined the effects of the aforementioned factors on a person's perception of crime, as well as compared these perceptions with actual crime rates. Results indicate that females, minorities, and people who frequently viewed local television news all reported a higher fear of crime, which is consistent with literature. The respondents' perceptions …