ALTHOUGH LESS THAN 40 PERCENT OF VIOLENT CRIMES OCCUR IN CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THE CRIMINAL AND VICTIM ARE UNKNOWN TO EACH OTHER, THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF SUCH CRIMES CREATES A DISPROPORTIONATE DEGREE OF FEAR. THIS PROPOSED MODEL FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRIME AND THE REDUCTION OF THE FEAR OF CRIME IS BASED ON THE SOCIAL CONTROL THEORY AND THE PREMISE THAT THE MAJORITY OF CRIMINALS ARE NON-SOCIOPATHIC AND THAT CERTAIN PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCESSES LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE SOCIAL NORMS WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN TAUGHT. THESE PROCESSES INCLUDE RATIONALIZATION FOR THE CRIME BY BLAMING THE ACT ON OTHER FORCES SUCH AS DRUGS; DEHUMANIZATION OF THE VICTIM INTO SOMEONE UNWORTHY OF NORMAL TREATMENT; AND THE DENIAL THAT HARM IS BEING DONE TO THE VICTIM. BASED ON THESE THEORIES OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, SOME IMPLICATIONS CAN BE DRAWN FOR VICTIM EDUCATION. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POTENTIAL VICTIMS INCLUDE THE AVOIDANCE OF POORLY LIT AREAS WHERE A CRIMINAL WOULD BE HARDER TO IDENTIFY, AVOIDANCE OF PERSONS WHO ARE DRUNK OR DRUGGED BECAUSE THEY ARE DISHIBITED, AVOIDANCE OF CROWDS OF POTENTIAL ASSAILANTS, AAND AVOIDANCE OF PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION WITH AN ATTACKER. CONVERSATION WITH AN ASSAILANT SHOULD BE ATTEMPTED AND SHOULD BE CALM WITHOUT IMPLYING CONDEMNATION. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS ARE PROVIDED AS WELL AS THE THEORETICAL REASONING BEHIND THESE SUGGESTIONS. EDUCATIONAL APPLICATIONS OF THE MODEL ARE DISCUSSED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)