NCJ Number
26525
Date Published
Unknown
Length
283 pages
Annotation
SURVEY OF THE ATTITUDES AND OPINIONS OF SELECTED POPULATIONS WITHIN THE STATE RELATIVE TO THE CRIMINALITY OF CERTAIN STATUTORY OFFENSES AND THE SEVERITY OF PENALTY THAT SHOULD BE PRESCRIBED FOR THOSE FOUND GUILTY.
Abstract
THE POPULATIONS SURVEYED WERE STATISTICALLY REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THE LEGISLATURE, JUVENILES, CRIMINALS, PAROLEES, AND THE JUDICIAL COMMUNITY. SURVEYED GROUPS RANKED 42 CRIMES (THE SAME 42 USED IN RESEARCH SUB-PROJECT NUMBER ONE, 026522) ACCORDING TO CRIME SEVERITY AND THE PROPER PUNISHMENT FOR VIOLATION OF THE CRIMINAL CODE STATUTES. DEMOGRAPHIC DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES AND SURVEY RESPONSE BY STUDY GROUP ARE DISCUSSED. PREMEDIATED MURDER, KIDNAPPING, ARMED ROBBERY, FORCIBLE RAPE, AND CHILD MOLESTING WERE CONSISTENTLY RATED BY ALL GROUPS AS THE MOST SEVERE CRIMES. THE CRIMES RANKED AS LEAST SEVERE WERE PRIVATE GAMBLING, POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA, ADULTERY, AND HOMOSEXUALITY BETWEEN TWO CONSENTING ADULTS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THESE CRIMES, ALONG WITH OVERT OR PUBLIC HOMOSEXUALITY, CONSENTING SODOMY, AND OVER-THE-COUNTER SALE OF PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL, BE CONSIDERED AS MISDEMEANORS INSTEAD OF AS FELONIES. ALSO ADVOCATED WAS THE EXPENDITURE OF A MAJORITY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT DOLLARS ON THE RESOLUTION AND PREVENTION OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY, AND THE USE OF PUBLIC REPORTING AND POSTING OF THE NAME, ADDRESS, AND CRIMINAL DEED COMMITTED BY EACH OFFENDER. THIS LAST RECOMMENDATION WAS PROMPTED BY THE SURVEY FINDING THAT SOCIAL OSTRACISM WAS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DETERRENT ACROSS ALL POPULATIONS. FORTY PAGES OF TABLES COMPARE SURVEY RESPONSES BY QUESTION AND BY STUDY POPULATION.