NCJ Number
56248
Journal
Canadian Journal of Criminology Volume: 20 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1978) Pages: 54-74
Date Published
1978
Length
19 pages
Annotation
THE VALIDITY OF APPLYING THE TECHNIQUE OF F.C. ROBERT AND C. FAUGERON FOR ANALYZING ATTITUDES OF THE CANADIAN PUBLIC TOWARD THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS ASSESSED.
Abstract
DATA ON INTELLECTUAL, EMOTIONAL, AND BEHAVIORAL ELEMENTS OF THE IMAGES WHICH UNDERLIE ATTITUDES TOWARD THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE COLLECTED FROM 40 INDEPTH TAPED INTERVIEWS WITH INDIVIDUALS OF DIFFERENT SOCIOECONOMIC GROUPS IN FRENCH-SPEAKING MONTREAL AND ARE ANALYZED ACCORDING TO A TECHNIQUE OF ASSOCIATION A KIND OF 'EXPLICATION DE TEXTE' AND ABSTRACTION. THE TYPOLOGY OF ATTITUDES IS BASED ON TWO ESSENTIAL PHILOSOPHICAL FACTORS: (1) OPTIMISM VERSUS PESSIMISM TOWARD HUMAN NATURE AND (2) CONFORMITY VERSUS NONCONFORMITY WITH REGARD TO SOCIAL NORMS (RITUALISTIC, TRADITIONAL, EVOLUTIONARY, AND HUMANIST CONFORMISTS; AND REFORMER AND REVOLUTIONARY NONCONFORMISTS). PETTY CRIMINALS WHO COMMIT INSIGNIFICANT CRIMINAL ACTS BY ACCIDENT OR INPULSE; REAL CRIMINALS, OPERATING EITHER AS INDIVIDUALS OR GANGS TO COMMIT INEXCUSABLE CRIMES; AND CRIMINALS WHO COMMIT SERIOUS CRIMES WITHOUT CRIMINAL INTENT ARE DIFFERENTIATED WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE INTENT FACTOR. PENALTIES ARE DETERMINED ACCORDING TO WHETHER CRIMINAL CONDUCT IS EXCUSABLE AND THE CRIMINAL CAN BE REHABILITATED, WHETHER CONDUCT IS CONDEMNED AND REHABILITATION IS OUT OF THE QUESTION, OR WHETHER THE CRIMINAL IS PHYSICALLY OR MENTALLY ILL. IDENTIFICATION WITH THE CRIMINAL AND APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF THE PENALTY IMPOSED IS CLEARLY A FUNCTION OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF CRIME, INTENT, AND MENTAL STATE OF THE CRIMINAL. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE RESEARCH FACTORS OF THE ROBERT-FAUGERON SYSTEM ARE VALID IN CANADIAN CIRCUMSTANCES AND PROVIDE EXCELLENT POSSIBILITIES FOR NONQUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF ATTITUDES. A BIBLIOGRAPHY, TWO DIAGRAMS, AND THREE REFERENCES ARE FURNISHED. --IN FRENCH. (KMD)