The introductory article surveys the growing feeling of public insecurity and the corresponding policy trends in France and the United States over the past 30 years. The first group of articles focuses on attitudes of insecurity among specific urban populations: a poor Parisian neighborhood in the years 1850-1960; an old neighborhood in Rubaix, Belgium; and a subsidized housing development in Glasgow, Scotland. An article characterizing the crime problem as a national priority concludes the section. The second group of articles details how specific communities and policy makers have responded to the threat of crime: a community-based approach to crime prevention in a Paris suburb; the Dutch policy for preventing vandalism, delinquency, and insecurity; and a Toronto community-policing initiative. A last article explores new tenant selection strategies for preventing delinquency in low-income neighborhoods. Nearly all articles include bibliographies.