NCJ Number
16449
Date Published
1973
Length
192 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A STUDY IN WHICH 181 PERSONS CONVICTED OF SERIOUS MOTORING OFFENSES IN ENGLAND AND A CONTROL GROUP OF 161 DRIVERS WITH NO KNOWN CONVICTIONS WERE SURVETED TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTS OF SENTENCES ON MOTORING OFFENDERS.
Abstract
THE EXPERIMENTAL METHODOLOGY IS FIRST OUTLINED. THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP WAS INTERVIEWED AT LEAST TWICE DURING THE YEAR AFTER SENTENCE, USUALLY IN THEIR FAMILY SETTING. DATA FROM THESE INTERVIEWS WERE COMPARED TO SURVEY RESULTS OF THE CONTROL GROUP. SUBJECTS WERE QUESTIONED ON THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARD THEIR OFFENSES, TREATMENT BY POLICE AND COURTS, AND FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL EFFECTS OF THE SENTENCE. COMPARISONS OF SOCIAL FACTORS AND DRIVING HISTORY FOR OFFENDERS AND NON-OFFENDERS ARE ALSO PROVIDED. THE RESULTS SHOWED THAT SERIOUS DRIVING OFFENDERS DO NOT THINK OF THEMSELVES AS CRIMINAL, THAT OFFENDERS SHOW LITTLE HOSTILITY TO THE POLICE, BUT THAT A MAJORITY DO SHOW HOSTILITY TO THE COURTS. IT WAS ALSO SHOWN THAT SERIOUS MOTORING OFFENDERS DIFFERED CONSIDERABLY FROM POPULATIONS OF DRIVERS IN GENERAL AND CORRESPOND MORE CLOSELY TO OFFENDERS CONVICTED OF THE MORE USUAL CRIMINAL OFFENSES. THE OFFENDERS IN GENERAL WERE FOUND TO CONSIDER THEIR SENTENCE UNJUST OR IRRELEVANT, AND IN MOST CASES THE SENTENCES WERE FOUND TO BE INEFFECTIVE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)