Reducing Fear of Crime

This study addresses whether residents' perceptions of informal neighborhood social control or police and government activities in their neighborhood provides a stronger explanation of their emotional fear of crime. Survey data from 505 residents from 10 diverse neighborhoods are used to test the relationship between informal and formal social control and individual fear of crime. The results indicate both informal control, especially social cohesion, and formal social control—a fear of police encounters and police effectiveness—explain emotional fear of crime. Discussion of citizen, police, and government responsibilities for reducing fear of crime is undertaken.