When Punishment Is Not Merciful: Fear of Crime and the Demand for Severe Penalties. Evidence From the Mexican Case

This article studies the relationship between fear of crime and demands for harsher punishments against those accused of criminal activity. We consider two types of fear of crime: 1) fear of robberies; and 2) fear of murder. This study is relevant because in situations of substantial fear of crime, citizens may be willing to sacrifice certain civil and personal liberties in exchange for greater security (Tulchin & Ruthenburg, 2006; Buil-Gil, 2016). We find that fear of being killed is consistently associated with increases in demand for harsh punishment, including the death penalty. Our analysis also suggests that when the magnitude of the harm that crime can cause is smaller, that association is weakened. This result suggests that in conditions of insecurity for life, the demands for the establishment of disproportionate sentences tend to intensify, and therefore, the incentives for the practice of punitive populism strengthen.