PERCEIVED RISK OF CRIME IN THE CZECH-REPUBLIC

The authors examine models of the perceived increased risk of crime in the Czech Republic derived from both American criminology and researc h on the perception of risk. The sample is 740 households in the 1994 Czech Republic, with 577 husband and wife respondents, 146 single fema le household heads, and 17 single male household heads. Measures inclu de criminal victimization, personal characteristics associated with ex posure and vulnerability to crime, trust in government, economic stres s, as well as perceived increased risk of crime since the postcommunis t transformation. A victimology model of the perceived increased risk of crime based on exposure and vulnerability to crime is confirmed for the Czech Republic. Trust in government is also an independent and co mplementary contribution to explaining perceived increased risk of cri me. The discussion includes an interpretation of the findings and thei r relevance to cross-national comparisons of perceived risk of crime.