Crime, neighborhood perceptions, and the underclass: The relationship between fear of crime and class position

Abstract

Fear of crime and the underclass represent two of the more prominent topics of discussion within the realms of criminology and sociology over the past several decades. There is little research, however, tying these topics together. Recently, a call has been reissued for the further understanding of the relationship between crime and class. Such an examination is essential to the understanding of fear of crime as well. In this article, an attempt is made to meld the two seemingly divergent areas of fear of crime and the underclass in order to develop a more thorough understanding of neighborhood fear. With the use of secondary data, the extent to which this underclass offers a useful model for analysis of neighborhood issues is investigated. In particular crime, fear, and perceptions of victimization among members of the underclass are examined.