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Mind the Gap: Public Attitudes on Crime Miss the Mark

Author Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Political Science, Purdue University-Calumet, Indiana, UNITED STATES
  • 2 Department of Political Science, Northern Illinois University, Illinois, UNITED STATES

Int. Res. J. Social Sci., Volume 2, Issue (3), Pages 1-11, March,14 (2013)

Abstract

Even though crime has fallen dramatically in the United States in the past several years, public opinion polls indicate that crime and public safety are among the leading concerns cited by the public. These polls tell us that Americans have a decidedly and consistently cynical view – saying crime is up locally and nationally; that crime perceptions are largely formed by what they see or hear in the news media; and, in general, opinions about crime don't reflect reality. Public perceptions of crime are important since they shape how people think about, and respond to, crime. This article explores public misconception about the nature and extent of crime and considers why public perception of crime is so at odds with official statistics, and the scope of the disparity between factual indicators and public perception on other crime related issues. The paper concludes with a discussion of the many ways crime perceptions are important and potential consequences of a crime gap.

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