DETERRENCE AS SOCIAL CONTROL - THE LEGAL AND EXTRALEGAL PRODUCTION OF CONFORMITY

• NCJ Number: 41543
• Journal: American Sociological Review Volume: 42 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1977) Pages: 292-304
• Author(s): R F MEIER; W T JOHNSON
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: American Sociological Review
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS ARTICLE EXAMINES THE QUESTION OF DETERRANCE AND SOCIAL INHIBITORS ON MARIJUANA USERS.

Abstract

PREVIOUS WORK DEALING WITH THE DETERRENT EFFECTS OF LEGAL SANCTIONS HAS LACKED AN APPROPRIATE SOCIOLOGICAL CONTEXT. THIS PAPER ADOPTS A THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE WHICH VIEWS LEGAL THREATS AS ONLY ONE MECHANISM WHICH MAY PRODUCE CONFORMITY. THIS FRAMEWORK, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH BOTH THE SOCIAL CONTROL AND SOCIAL INFLUENCE LITERATURE, EMPHASIZES THE POSSIBLE IMPORTANCE OF EXTRALEGAL FACTORS IN THE PRODUCTION OF CONFORMITY. IT ILLUSTRATES THE METHODOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THEIR APPROACH EMPIRICALLY WITH A TEST OF THE DETERRANCE DOCTRINE THAT FOCUSES ON THE USE OF MARIJUANA. A MULTIPLE REGRESSION ANALYSIS OF DATA OBTAINED FROM A SAMPLE OF BOTH MARIJUANA USERS AND NONUSERS IN A JURISDICTION WITH SEVERE PENALTIES FOR THE USE OF MARIJUANA INDICATES THAT THE CRIMINAL LAW RECEIVES SUPPORT FROM CERTAIN EXTRALEGAL INHIBITORY INFLUENCES. MOREOVER, WHEN THE EFFICACY OF THESE EXTRALEGAL INFLUENCES ARE COMPARED TO THE CONTROLLING EFFECTS OF LEGAL THREATS, THE EXTRALEGAL INFLUENCES ARE FOUND TO BE THE MORE IMPORTANT.(AUTHOR ABSTRACT)....BDS