Gang Activity and Perceptions of Safety in Robeson County

UNCP Author/Contributor (non-UNCP co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Kimberly Scales (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP )
Web Site: http://www.uncp.edu/academics/library
Advisor
Dr. Jeff Bolles

Abstract: Gang Activity is considered a public health and safety issue in America today. Gang activity involves violent criminal acts of all kinds including theft, murder, assault, human trafficking and the sale of illicit drugs. In Robeson County, many citizens do not know the severity of the crimes being committed by gangs or the amount of gangs located throughout the county. For this study, extensive research on the location of gangs in Robeson County and the various crimes performed by these gangs within the last five years was conducted and distributed to 17 participants in the form of a survey intervention. Before viewing the intervention data, each participant's current knowledge of gangs, crime and individual safety perceptions were collected. After viewing the intervention data, participants were given the same survey and changes in answers were recorded. The hypothesis was that participants would feel less safe, more knowledgeable about gangs and more fearful of crimes being committed in their community following the intervention. The results supported the hypothesis that participants would feel less safe in their community and more knowledgeable about gang activity following the intervention. However, participants did not record an increase in fear of crimes being committed in their community following the intervention. Although more research must be conducted in order to obtain a sample size more representative of Robeson County, the results found in this study show that an increased knowledge of gang activity in the community directly effects community safety perceptions.

Additional Information

Publication
Honors Project
Esther G. Maynor Honors College
Language: English
Date: 2014
Keywords
Gang Activity, Robeson County, NC, Public Health and Safety Issues, Community Awareness, Community Perceptions

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