Canadian Attitudes Toward Crime and Justice

• NCJ Number: 124106
• Journal: Forum on Corrections Research Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: 1990 Pages: 10-13
• Author(s): M. Adams
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 3 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

Results of two Canadian studies are used to examine a number of justice issues including confidence in the system, the appropriateness of laws and law enforcement, crime rates, punishment, and parole.

Abstract

The goals of the criminal justice system are believed by Canadians to include: protecting and serving society, protecting the innocent, acting as a deterrent to criminals, and punishing offenders. Canadians view the justice system with less confidence and perceive the system as failing at an operational level. They also feel that the justice system overemphasizes the rights of the offender. Study participants held mostly negative observations, but their overall attitude was that although the system was imperfect, it was workable. Canadians believe that the criminal justice system is too easy on offenders who they felt received punishments that were too lenient. The parole system was believed to need reform; many felt that the offender gets off too soon, that parole is virtually automatic after one third of the sentence, and that the nature of the offender's crime and concurrent risk to society are not given proper consideration. Participants were virtually unanimous in their agreement that rehabilitation should be one, but not the major, goal of imprisonment. The first priority for reform among participants was for reinstitution of capital punishment. Some respondents felt that prison life should be made tough enough to serve as a deterrent to further crime. Some of the participants fears about crime and negative perceptions about the justice system are based on incomplete or inaccurate knowledge which could be improved by providing the public with accurate information. Public education could be used to provide information on proposed reform initiatives at early stages to dispel the notion that the criminal justice system is rigid while reminding people that reform is a continuous and ongoing process. 4 notes. (Publisher abstract modified)