Do Crime Alert s Create a Heightened Perception of Danger? CCTP Francesca Tripodi, Jonathon Winters, Lauren Burgoon, Jacob Landis, Lewis Levenberg, Ian Smalley

ALERT

CRIME

victim perpetrator ALERT CRIME

victim perpetrator ALERT CRIME REPORT

victim perpetrator ALERT CRIME REPORT Police

victim perpetrator ALERT CRIME REPORT Police University DCAlert

victim perpetrator ALERT CRIME REPORT Police University DCAlert victim perpetrator ALERT CRIME REPORT Police University DCAlert

victim perpetrator ALERT CRIME REPORT Police University DCAlert students residents business owners victim perpetrator ALERT CRIME REPORT Police University DCAlert

victim perpetrator ALERT CRIME REPORT Police University DCAlert students residents business owners archive victim perpetrator ALERT CRIME REPORT Police University DCAlert

Problem  Public Safety Alert s issued by Georgetown University’s Department of Public Safety may affect Georgetown’s student and resident communities’ perception of crime and danger in the neighborhood. These perceived notions of danger may be unnecessarily greater than actual crime rates in the area.

Disciplines Social Psychology Criminology

Disciplines  Social Psychology focuses on the effects of social and cognitive processes on the way individuals perceive, influence, and relate to others. (1)  Criminology is the study of crime through various means, including crime statistics.  Project explores the relationship between Social Psychology and Criminology by analyzing the relationship between crime and the influence that technological alerts have on fear of crime. 1. Social Psychology By Eliot R. Smith, Diane M. Mackie Published by Psychology Press, 2000 ISBN X

Research Gaps Social Psychology  What are the motivating factors for joining or paying attention to crime alert systems?  Are perceptions of danger heightened by mass crime alerts?  Do mass crime alerts change people’s behaviors?

Research Gaps Criminology  What is the crime rate at Georgetown compared to other campuses and neighborhoods in the DC Metro area?  How many crimes are reported through Campus Safety, compared to those reported to Metropolitan Police?  How do “hot spot” maps generated by students compare to police generated “hot spot” maps?

Research Questions Social PsychologyCriminology

Research Questions Social Psychology  How do communications technologies generally affect the way individuals form their perceptions of safety, community, trust, and fear? Criminology

Research Questions Social Psychology  How do communications technologies generally affect the way individuals form their perceptions of safety, community, trust, and fear?  Do crime alerts generate fear? Criminology

Research Questions Social Psychology  How do communications technologies generally affect the way individuals form their perceptions of safety, community, trust, and fear?  Do crime alerts generate fear?  Does long-term residence matter? Criminology

Research Questions Social Psychology  How do communications technologies generally affect the way individuals form their perceptions of safety, community, trust, and fear?  Do crime alerts generate fear?  Does long-term residence matter?  Are safety impressions accurate, compared to actual crime statistics in the area? Criminology

Research Questions Social Psychology  How do communications technologies generally affect the way individuals form their perceptions of safety, community, trust, and fear?  Do crime alerts generate fear?  Does long-term residence matter?  Are safety impressions accurate, compared to actual crime statistics in the area? Criminology  What affects a neighborhood’s crime rate?

Research Questions Social Psychology  How do communications technologies generally affect the way individuals form their perceptions of safety, community, trust, and fear?  Do crime alerts generate fear?  Does long-term residence matter?  Are safety impressions accurate, compared to actual crime statistics in the area? Criminology  What affects a neighborhood’s crime rate?  How does crime rates in neighborhoods compare?

Research Questions Social Psychology  How do communications technologies generally affect the way individuals form their perceptions of safety, community, trust, and fear?  Do crime alerts generate fear?  Does long-term residence matter?  Are safety impressions accurate, compared to actual crime statistics in the area? Criminology  What affects a neighborhood’s crime rate?  How does crime rates in neighborhoods compare?  Who are the victims and perpetrators of crimes?

Research Questions Social Psychology  How do communications technologies generally affect the way individuals form their perceptions of safety, community, trust, and fear?  Do crime alerts generate fear?  Does long-term residence matter?  Are safety impressions accurate, compared to actual crime statistics in the area? Criminology  What affects a neighborhood’s crime rate?  How does crime rates in neighborhoods compare?  Who are the victims and perpetrators of crimes?  What makes an area a “crime hot spot”?

Methods for Research Social Psychology Criminology

Methods for Research Social Psychology  Surveys and interviews to gather data  Close reading of crime reports  Interpretation of survey responses Criminology

Methods for Research Social Psychology  Surveys and interviews to gather data  Close reading of crime reports  Interpretation of survey responses Criminology  Data collection through crime reports  Longitudinal analysis  Geographical analysis

Sample Survey Questions When you applied to Georgetown University, what was your perception of Main Campus safety? □ Very safe □ Somewhat safe □ Not at all safe How often do you read campus safety alerts sent by Georgetown University? □ Always □ Frequently (more than half of the alerts sent) □ Occasionally (less than half of the alerts sent) □ Never If you do read the alerts do you: □ Read the body of the ? □ Clink on the link provided for more information? Do campus crime alerts affect your decision about where to visit on campus? □ Always □ Sometimes □ Never Do you receive crime alerts from outside of Georgetown University, i.e. the Metropolitan police? □ Yes □ No

PSA Georgetown

PSA 304 – Howard University

PSA 504 – Gallaudet University