Reducing Fear of Crime Strategies for Police

agencies, companies, products, or services should not be considered an endorsement by the authors or the U.S. Department of Justice. Rather, the references are illustrations to supplement discussion of the issues. The Internet references cited in this publication were valid as of July 2009. Given that URLs and web sites are in constant flux, neither the authors nor the COPS Office can vouch for their current validity. iii Dear Colleagues, Fear of crime has an incredibly corrosive effect on individuals and entire communities. This issue is of great concern to all of us in law enforcement. Fear negatively shapes all aspects of the quality of life of America’s communities. The COPS Office recognizes that people not only need to be safe, but they also need to feel safe. Treating both of these issues as two parts of a greater whole is a critical aspect of community policing. That is why we produced this document, “Reducing Fear of Crime: Strategies for Police. ” This publication identifies promising practices that have the potential to directly address the fear of crime. It is written by Gary Cordner, one of the foremost experts on the issue of community fear in the policing field. Community policing is one of the most effective tools for reducing the fear of crime. When law enforcement works directly with residents and businesses within a community, they are going a long way toward reducing crime, improving quality of life, and enhancing public safety. I know that you will find our new publication, “Reducing Fear of Crime: Strategies for Police,” extremely useful. Sincerely