NCJ Number
79477
Journal
Humanitas Volume: 5 Issue: 4 Dated: (1979) Pages: 341-345
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Findings are presented from a survey of a sample of black South Africans to determine their perceptions of the relative severity of 64 criminal acts.
Abstract
A random sample was drawn of 13 of the 27 townships in Soweto (South Africa), and 1,528 dwellings chosen at random in the townships were visited. A respondent of 18 years or older was chosen in a pre-arranged manner in every dwelling and asked to rate in order of severity 64 criminal acts listed on the research schedule. Findings show that crimes against a person, such as murder, robbery, rape, incest, and abortion, are regarded as very serious. Property crimes, nonviolent crimes within the family, and sexual crimes committed with the consent of both parties were deemed less serious. The women in the sample apparently viewed certain sexual crimes, crimes against the family, abortion, crimes against the police, and drug offenses as much more severe than did the men. This survey was part of the South African Law Commission's efforts to determine the public's values and priorities for social control, legislation, and law enforcement. The schedule and ranking of crimes are provided, and 38 references are listed.