NCJ Number
98585
Date Published
1983
Length
81 pages
Annotation
This paper -- one of a series of reports presenting descriptive data from intensive evaluation sites of the national Juvenile Restitution Initiative -- focuses on community attitudes toward the restitution projects and related issues.
Abstract
In June and July 1979, randomly selected community members in the jurisdictions of the experimental sites were interviewed by telephone. The survey focused on attitudes toward (1) restitution program policies and procedures, (2) restitution benefits, (3) juvenile crime causes, and (4) juvenile justice officials. The communities surveyed were Ventura County, Calif.; Washington, D.C.; Clayton County, Ga.; Oklahoma County, Okla.; Seattle, Wash.; and Dane County, Wis. The total sample for all jurisdictions was 2,432; interviews were completed with 1,432 (52 percent). The survey's preliminary results indicate that respondents in all six sites favor restitution. It was the preferred disposition for the serious, adjudicated juvenile offender; was viewed as a viable alternative to incarceration and other traditional sanctions; and was believed to have a beneficial effect on both juvenile offenders and their victims. There were only minor differences in the attitudes and perceptions of persons from the different regions represented; however, there were differences among attitudes within and across jurisdictions according to respondent characteristics of income, sex, race, and education. The strongest difference was among preferences for types of juvenile offender services distinguished by respondent income level. Findings from each site are presented and compared, including tabular data. The appendixes contain the survey instrument and the questionnaire sent to persons in the sample who refused to be interviewed.