Hi! I don’t think people walk around in fear all the time. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. Berkeley has all of the advantages of a small city but with access to a much bigger city. But I suppose it depends on where your child is coming from. If as you suggest she’s got basic street smarts, she’ll be fine.
I haven’t really weighed in on the whole issue of the private security being paid for by parents, but my first instinct is that it seems unnecessary and overkill.
I’ve definitely written on this topic before, so I’ll link a few comments from the past: UC Berkeley Freshman Class of 2026 Discussion - #1547 by GoldRush2
And here: UC Berkeley Freshman Class of 2026 Discussion - #1631 by GoldRush2
And here: UC Berkeley Freshman Class of 2026 Discussion - #1651 by GoldRush2
Actually, you could definitely do a look-over of old threads and see this topic discussed in detail, but your best bet is probably to hear from those who have students currently enrolled.
As a parent raising kids, it’s a great place to live!