NCJ Number
122910
Date Published
1989
Length
126 pages
Annotation
A mail survey completed by 1,328 of 3,200 randomly selected registered voters and by 112 of 219 criminal justice officials who received questionnaires in 4 Colorado counties gathered information about the views of citizens and criminal justice officials regarding crime, how crime affects them, their actions to protect themselves, and public policy.
Abstract
Citizens ranked crime as the most serious social issue, while criminal justice officials ranked it second to the Federal budget deficit. Citizens and officials see crime in the State as more serious than crime in their community. Most also believe that crime will increase in the future. However, most citizens and officials feel safe, and the percentage of citizens who view crime as a serious problem in the state declined from 67 percent in 1982 to 52 percent in 1988. Both citizens and criminal justice officials believe that the main purpose of sentencing is the incapacitation of the offender. However, for the majority of scenarios presented, they recommended placement in a structured community program such as jail and probation, intensive supervision probation, or residential community corrections. Tables, appended study instrument and additional results, and 26 references.