Community Attitudes Toward Violent Crime

Community Perceptions: Collective Behavior Dynamics

The media and missives from law enforcement officials convey the impression that violent crime is rampant in the United States. Citizens derive the perception that they are extremely vulnerable to attack by violent criminal assailants. In reality, FBI statistics show that there is approximately a 1 in 10 chance that someone will be faced with a violent criminal offender, and chances are closer to 1 in 1,000 of becoming a violent crime victim. Senior citizens report the highest fear of violent crime, but people in this age group are actually least at risk because they tend not to venture out during late afternoon and evening when violent crime is at its peak. The fear of crime among senior citizens and others is reinforced by persistent exposure to local news reports featuring violent crime as their lead stories. Just a few incidents may be generalized as a “crime wave.”

The “marketing” of violence through the media and persistent public messages has had a huge effect on fundamental relationships among communities. For example, pointed racial profiling in public service messages about the prevalence and dangerousness of violent crime can generate hatred and aggressive reactions toward marginalized groups (e.g., blacks, Latinos, and Arab Americans) and target hardening on the part of law enforcement. The citizenry generally accepts messages transmitted from government or law enforcement officials, even though they may specifically target or enable the stereotyping of minorities. Such groups become a priori suspects, scapegoated in an ill-fated attempt to control the crime problem. In this way, everyday attitudes toward criminal violence reinforce a crime control ideology fueled by the presence of an uncomfortable tension. Ironically, this ideology emphasizes the pursuit of peace while framing its appeal in the representation of belligerent social attitudes.

Symbolic slogans in the media give context and validation to citizen perceptions. For example, the public service campaign “McGruff the Crime Dog,” which urges citizens to “Take a Bite Out of Crime,” demonstrates an acceptable community resistance to violent crime. It targets diverse populations of children (e.g., don't accept candy or rides from strangers) and adults (learn to secure homes against burglars before going out).

Community Involvement