Identifying Risky Places on Campus: The Impact of LSC and Fear of Crime

Abstract

The present study examines the association between fear of crime, low self-control, and the identification of risky places on a college campus. Based on self-report data from undergraduate students at a medium-sized Southern university collected during spring 2020, this research investigates how variations in self-control influence perceptions of campus safety. Fear of crime is quantified by aggregating individual perceptions regarding the relative risk of six different possible victimization outcomes while on campus. Our findings reveal that fear of crime and the total number of semesters enrolled are significant predictors of identifying risky places on campus. These results underscore the need for campus administrators to develop targeted safety measures and interventions that address areas perceived as risky by students. This study has important implications for understanding student perceptions of campus safety and informs future research, theoretical frameworks, and practical interventions aimed at enhancing campus security.