The current research tests three conceptual models designed to explain citizens' fear of crime-vulnerability, disorder, and social integration. These models are assessed for differential impact across the cognitive and affective dimensions of fear of crime. The analysis reported here considers the consecutive and simultaneous influence of individual-and city-level factors using multilevel modeling techniques. Recently collected survey data for 2,599 citizens nested within 21 cities across Washington State provide the empirical evidence for the analysis. Results indicate that the disorder model is best able to explain variation in both the cognitive and affective dimensions of citizens' fear of crime across cities. The vulnerability and social integration models explain significantly less variation. Further, the vulnerability model lacks directional consistency across the observed dimensions of fear. Societal implications of the research findings are discussed.Keywords Fear of crime Á Victimization Á Multilevel analysis Á Vulnerability Á Disorder Á Social integration Fear of crime has been recognized as a significant social problem, affecting the quality of life across various demographic and socio-economic conditions. Attempts to understand the dynamics underlying the fear of crime have led to numerous empirical and theoretical developments. Three dominant models have emerged as possible explanations of variation in fear of crime among citizens-the vulnerability, disorder, and social integration models. While each of these models has received some

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This study used a sample of 2,230 female university students to assess the applicability of routine activity theory and self-control on property, personal, and sexual assault victimization. Results indicate that (a) both self-control deficits and participation in drug sale behavior were significantly correlated with increased property, personal, and sexual assault victimization; (b) increased partying and shopping frequency and off-campus housing significantly and substantively correlated with increased property victimization; (c) off-campus housing was correlated with increased personal victimization; and (d) increased number of days spent on campus and increased frequency of partying significantly increased sexual assault victimization, net of controls. Future directions for the integration of feminist theory and strategies for crime prevention are discussed.

Recently, scholars have begun to examine victim self-control as a correlate of vulnerability to general victimization. The scope of victimization contained among the studies testing this relationship is limited. More specifically, researchers have only focused on general victimization or personal/property victimization, with limited attention to violence against women, and have neglected to consider sexual assault victimization. Claims that self-control is applicable as a universal correlate of victimization necessitate additional research on the role of self-control in understanding sexual assault. Using a sample of 221 university women, the current analysis models the relationship between sexual victimization, opportunity structures, routine activity/lifestyle theory measures, and self-control. Results indicate that low self-control is significantly correlated with increased odds of alcohol-induced sexual assault victimization despite the inclusion of other theoretically relevant variables. Implications for research, theory, and prevention policy are discussed.

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The current study used a random sample of 502 men and women to investigate the intergenerational transmission of violence and assess the impact of family-oforigin violence on later adult intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration and victimization while controlling for a host of theoretically-relevant factors and demographic characteristics. Six multivariate logistic regression analyses were modeled to identify differential correlates depending upon type of violence perpetration and victimization. Findings indicated a significant relationship between family-of-origin violence and psychological perpetration and victimization. The acceptance of violence in relationships significantly correlated with physical violence perpetration. Finally, being married, older, and employed protected against several forms of interpersonal violence. Policy implications are discussed.

Currently, two studies have examined perceptions of prostituted youth and factors associated with negative assessments. The male-and majority-race nature of criminal justice agencies and research on rape victim culpability attributions underscores the importance of addressing perceptions of this population as paramount to effective intervention. This research used 357 student survey responses to investigate observer characteristics correlated with blameworthiness assessments. Findings demonstrated sexist attitudes and observer race correlated with blameworthiness directed toward prostituted youth with no victimization history disclosure, and prostitution myth adherence and observer childhood abuse correlated with blameworthiness directed toward prostituted youth whose victimization history was disclosed. Research and policy implications are discussed.