Perceptions of the Police and Fear of Crime in a Rural Setting: Utility of a Geographically Focused Survey for Police Services, Planning, and Assessment

Abstract

This study focuses on a survey designed to determine what crime-related issues citizens are most concerned with, and how they perceive the police. The survey utilized a geographically focused sampling technique. To discern any differences in concerns among the different areas of the city, the sample was stratified in accordance with the police department's beats. A breakdown of the survey data by police beat indicates that residents in the Northern beats are more concerned about their personal safety, their children's safety, drugs in their neighborhoods, and the safety of their property than residents of other areas. The analysis also indicates that women have significant concerns about their personal safety at night, both indoors and outdoors. The majority of respondents indicated that they thought the police were responsive to the needs of the community but would like to see friendly interaction between officers and citizens.