Fear of Crime Out West: Determinants of Fear of Property and Violent Crime in Five States

• Author: David Kim,Heeuk D. Lee,Cooper Maher,Bradford W. Reyns
• Published date: 01 September 2020
• Date: 01 September 2020
• DOI: 10.1177/0306624X20909238
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X20909238

International Journal of

Offender Therapy and

Comparative Criminology

2020, Vol. 64(12) 1299 –1316

© The Author(s) 2020

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DOI: 10.1177/0306624X20909238

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Article

Fear of Crime Out West:

Determinants of Fear of

Property and Violent

Crime in Five States

Heeuk D. Lee1, Bradford W. Reyns1,

David Kim2, and Cooper Maher1

Abstract

Fear of crime research has been around for decades, and many studies of its extent,

nature, and consequences have been published. In this study, we build upon existing

research to examine the effects of vulnerability, disorder/incivilities, social cohesion,

prior victimization, and perceptions of police upon fear of property crime and fear of

violent crime. Using data from a random mail survey of residents from five different

states, the current study offers a view of the determinants of fear of crime within

an often overlooked population—residents of the Western United States. Results

support leading theories of fear of crime, finding that women, perceptions of disorder/

incivilities, perceptions of social cohesion, prior victimization, and assessments of

police quality of service each influence fear of crime. Findings also suggest that the

determinants of fear of crime vary somewhat according to crime type.

Keywords

fear, disorder, property crime, violent crime, social cohesion, victimization

Introduction

Five decades have passed since the release of the President’s Commission on Law

Enforcement and Administration of Justice report that identified fear of crime as a

significant social problem in the United States (U.S. President’s Commission on Law

1Weber State University, Ogden, UT, USA

2Indiana University East, Richmond, USA

Corresponding Author:

Heeuk D. Lee, Department of Criminal Justice, Weber State University, Ogden, UT 84408, USA.

Email: heeuklee@weber.edu

909238IJOXXX10.1177/0306624X20909238International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative CriminologyLee et al.

research-article2020

1300 International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology 64(12)

Enforcement and the Administration of Justice, 1967). In that report, the Commission

noted that fear of crime was pervasive and had “eroded the basic quality of life of many

Americans” (U.S. President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration

of Justice, 1967, p. v). Such strong statements sparked researchers’ interests in studying

fear of crime, and in the years since the report’s release, innumerable studies of fear of

crime have been published (e.g., Ferraro, 1995; Hale, 1996; Henson & Reyns, 2015;

Warr, 2000).

These studies have answered many research questions about the extent, nature, and

consequences of fear of crime and expanded the knowledge base in this area signifi-

cantly (e.g., see Hale, 1996; Henson & Reyns, 2015; Lane et al., 2014; Warr, 2000, for

reviews). At the same time, the United States is geographically and culturally diverse,

and fear of crime research studies are needed that reflect this diversity. In particular,

researchers have been slow to study the dynamics of fear of crime in states “West of

the Mississippi.” Although existing theory does not suggest that criminological deter-

minants of fear of crime may vary regionally, replication of findings from prior work

is needed to establish the veracity of these findings and theories. Thus, the current

study addresses four research questions related to predictors of crime-specific fear of

crime using data from residents of five states—Idaho, Montana, South Dakota,

Washington, and Wyoming. Although fear of crime research has been undertaken in

some of these states, the current study is the first to utilize multistate data from the

region (e.g., Crank et al., 2003; Rountree & Land, 1996).

First, the present study examines a vulnerability model of fear of crime.

Theoretically, individuals who view themselves as vulnerable to criminal victimiza-

tion are more likely to be fearful of falling prey to crime (e.g., Hale, 1996; Henson &

Reyns, 2015; Katz et al., 2003; Killias & Clerici, 2000; Lane et al., 2014; Warr, 2000).

Research suggests that the sources of that perceived vulnerability are derived from

physical characteristics (e.g., age, gender) and social characteristics (e.g., income,

education), and research has generally found that vulnerability is associated with fear

of crime (e.g., C. A. Franklin & Franklin, 2009; Haynie, 1998; Henson & Reyns, 2015;

Liska et al., 1988; Skogan & Maxfield, 1981). Therefore, the current study hypothe-

sizes that physical and social vulnerability—operationalized as age, gender, income,

and education—will be predictive of individuals’ fear of crime.

Second, the present research examines contextual influences upon fear of crime.

Prior research and theory suggest that environmental characteristics send signals to

individuals about the relative safety or danger of their environments (e.g., Brunton-

Smith & Sturgis, 2011; Ferraro, 1995; Like, 2011; Maxfield, 1984; Swartz et al.,

2011; Wilson & Kelling, 1982) and that specific signals or cues are associated with

feelings of fear. In particular, the presence of physical signs of disorder and/or inci-

vilities signal to site users that problems in this environment have not been addressed,

and, therefore, any problems they encounter will also likely go unchecked. Overall

then, the current study addresses whether signs of physical disorder and/or incivili-

ties are associated with heightened fear of crime as reported in prior research (e.g.,

Covington & Taylor, 1991; LaGrange et al., 1992; Lewis & Salem, 1986; Skogan,

1990).