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A sign means something. When you see a stop sign there’s no mystery about its meaning. Some signs are not as clear, and we have to interpret their meaning. For example, when someone sees neighborhood disorder or social incivilities, such as obvious drug dealing, these serve as warning signals about the potential for crime victimization. This can then lead to a fear of crime. Sometimes other factors can come into play that impact a person’s fear. These “other factors” interfere with the original sign, signaling something that makes you feel safe. This is important for people who live in areas that suffer from a multitude of disorders or incivilities. What are some of the other factors that can influence a person’s perception of safety? If we know what those factors are, can we increase them, thus improve feelings of safety?

Joining the podcast is Doctor Travis M. Carter, an Assistant Professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He discusses his recent study titled “Explaining the relationship between neighborhood disorder and crime fear.

Main Topics

• Incivilities create the perception of crime, but social capital, perceptions of enhanced informal social control and social cohesion, serve as cognitive heuristics that signal to people that their chances of victimization are lower.
• The “reassurance factor” describes people’s confidence in their local police as directly tied to fear of crime in their neighborhood.
• The research findings suggest that perceptions of ongoing local social processes by neighbors and the police are fundamental to understanding why disorder is associated with fear of crime.

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