NCJ Number
179550
Editor(s)
Timothy J. Flanagan,
Dennis R. Longmire
Date Published
1996
Length
232 pages
Annotation
A distinguished panel of criminologists analyzes the data collected from the most recent (1995) National Opinion Survey on Crime and Justice (NOSCJ), the most wide-ranging investigation of public opinion on crime and justice issues in more than a decade.
Abstract
Conducted in June 1995, the survey features responses from 1,000 adults in the United States on such issues as fear of crime, gun control, capital punishment, juvenile crime, and other related topics of national concern. In each chapter, contributors not only provide a rigorous analysis of the data collected in the survey but also place the findings within the broader context of previous survey research on the topic. An introductory chapter notes that three themes characterize major aspects of public opinion about crime and justice issues over time. One is the significant temporal stability in many aspects of public attitudes, including perceptions of crime, fear of crime, evaluations of the police, the government's role in spending to fight crime, gun control, and drug control policy. A second theme is apparent logical inconsistency between views on related issues. One example is the support of a majority of Americans for capital punishment for murder because they believe it acts as a deterrent; they support capital punishment even if it can be shown it is not a deterrent. A third theme is the public's essentially pragmatic view on most issues. People favor those policies and practices they believe are effective in increasing public safety and reducing crime. Chapter tables and figures, 245 references, and appended NOSCJ survey questionnaire