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MIAMI (FL) - PUBLIC ATTITUDES ABOUT CRIME

NCJ Number
46239
Author(s)
ANON
Date Published
1979
Length
66 pages
Annotation
FINDINGS OF A SURVEY OF 4,249 MIAMI (FLA.) HOUSING UNITS (9,650 MIAMI RESIDENTS) TAKEN IN 1974 UNDER THE NATIONAL CRIME SURVEY PROGRAM TO ASSESS PUBLIC ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS RELATED TO CRIME ARE REPORTED.
Abstract
MOST RESIDENTS OF MIAMI SHARED THE BELIEF THAT CRIME IN THE NATION HAD INCREASED DURING THE YEAR OR TWO PRIOR TO THE SURVEY AND THAT THEIR CHANCES OF FALLING VICTIM TO VIOLENT ATTACK HAD ALSO RISEN. WHEN ASKED TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF CRIME ON PERSONAL ACTIVITY, MORE THAN THREE-FOURTHS SAID FEAR OF ATTACK HAD AFFECTED AMERICAN LIVES. HOWEVER, THE CITY'S INHABITANTS WERE LESS WIDELY CONCERNED ABOUT CRIME IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS. ONLY ABOUT ONE-FOURTH BELIEVED CRIME TO BE ON THE INCREASE IN THE VICINITY OF THEIR HOMES, AND MOST REGARDED THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AS SAFER THAN OTHERS IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA. IN ADDITION, FEWER THAN 1 IN 5 HOUSEHOLD RESPONDENTS IDENTIFIED CRIME AS THE MOST SERIOUS NEIGHBORHOOD PROBLEM. GIVEN SUCH OPINIONS, IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT NEARLY ALL RESIDENTS SAID THEY FELT AT LEAST REASONABLY SAFE WHEN OUT ALONE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD DURING THE DAY. HOWEVER, THE HOURS AFTER DARK APPEARED TO CAUSE GREATER INSECURITY: 38 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE FELT AT LEAST MODERATELY UNSAFE AT NIGHT. BASED ON 37 STATISTICAL DATA TABLES, THIS DISCUSSION CENTERS ON PERCEPTION AND ATTITUDES RELATING TO TRENDS IN CRIME, FEAR OF CRIME, RESIDENTIAL PROBLEMS AND LIFESTYLES, AND LOCAL POLICE PERFORMANCE. THE REPORT IS ONE OF A SERIES OF 13 AND A COMPANION TO 'CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION SURVEYS IN MIAMI' (1977), WHICH REPORTED ON THE RATES OF RAPE, ROBBERY, ASSAULT, BURGLARY, LARCENY, AND MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT FOUND IN THE SURVEY. APPENDIXES ON SURVEY DATA TABLES, SURVEY INSTRUMENT, AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION ARE INCLUDED. A GLOSSARY IS ATTACHED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--DAG)