Abstract
Latin America is a violent region where fear of crime is well spread but still not fully understood. Using multilevel methods for a large and subnational representative household survey (N = 271,022), we assess the determinants of fear of crime in Peru, the country with the highest fear of crime and crime victimization in the region. Our results show that body-aimed victimization (physical or sexual abuse from a member of their household, and sexual offenses) is the strongest driver of fear of crime, even higher than armed victimization. Moreover, safety measures based on social capital are negatively related to fear of crime, suggesting that they are palliatives rather than real protections. Finally, our study shows that people in a higher socioeconomic status are more likely to fear more because they have more (resources) to lose. Policy implications address Latin America as a whole and punitive policies against crime are common in the region, while evidence-based decisions are scarce.
Highlights
Insecurity in Latin America has reached critical proportions
We focused our study on the predictors of Fear of crime (FOC) in Peru, a country with the highest FOC levels in Latin America
We used a large sample from a subnational representative household survey for the 2010–2016 period
Summary
Insecurity in Latin America has reached critical proportions. The homicide rate per 100 inhabitants in this region triples the world average and is five times larger than in European countries (UNODC, 2018). Robbery rates are much higher in Latin American countries when compared to developed ones; only Southern African countries are in a worse position (Heiskanen, 2010) than Latin American ones. Since the 1990s, these forms of crime among others have become regular issues in Latin American everyday life, as has happened with their consequences in the public agenda and citizen concerns (Dammert, 2019). FOC impacts on economic, social, and political issues, including an accelerated process of privatization of security, abandonment of public spaces, increasing urban segregation, and a general sense of distrust of public institutions (especially those linked to the criminal justice system) FOC impacts on economic, social, and political issues, including an accelerated process of privatization of security, abandonment of public spaces, increasing urban segregation, and a general sense of distrust of public institutions (especially those linked to the criminal justice system) (Hummelsheim et al, 2011; M. Lee & Ellis, 2017; Mythen & Lee, 2017)
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