This is a doctoral dissertation project to study the discourse and collective action of anti-crime activists in order to understand the social and institutional forces that engender a fear of crime and the circumstances under which fear of crime gives rise to anti-crime activism. The principal source of data will be videotapes and transcripts of focus group conversations with members of Boston area "crime watch' groups. This study will contribute to ongoing debates about fear of crime, and the politics of crime, and it will clarify the political effects of fear of crime and anti-crime activism by identifying the kinds of anti-crime initiatives that are likely to receive broad public support.
