Red Lights and Handcuffs: The Effect of Arrests on the Fear of Crime*

Abstract

ObjectivesDespite decreasing rates of violent victimization, the fear of neighborhood crime continues to rise and is often exaggerated. This project explores the role of arrests on the fear of crime and perceived neighborhood safety. The visual nature of arrests—flashing red lights, blaring sirens, and apprehension of a suspect—provides residents with an observable proxy for crime, elevating their fear. Alternately, arrests can serve as a signal of police effectiveness and the decreasing threat of victimization.MethodsI use multilevel modeling to investigate the unique relationship between two forms of neighborhood concern and arrests.ResultsResults show that the number of arrests increases the fear of violent crime. Perceived neighborhood safety is influenced more by crime rates than arrests.ConclusionsThese results have implications for the role of police in managing the fear of crime among community residents, especially surrounding violent crime.