A Multilevel Examination of the Code of the Streets Relationship With Fear of Crime
Published online on January 19, 2016
Abstract
Research suggests that youths adopt the code of the street to reduce potential victimization, but it may increase actual risk of victimization. Because of this contradiction, the relationship between the code of the street and fear of crime may be an important component; however, fear of crime is an understudied component in the code of the street literature. This study conducts multilevel models to examine whether the code of the street is associated with perceived risk of victimization and emotional fear of crime. Individual belief in the code of the street was positively related to emotional fear of violent crime. At the neighborhood level, the code of the street was associated with higher perceived risk.