EXPLORATION OF COMMUNITY ATTITUDES AND REALITIES IN CRIMINAL DEVIANCE

• NCJ Number: 50537
• Author(s): J H WILLIAMS
• Editor(s): C D MCBRIAN
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 10 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: National Criminal Justice Information & Statistics Service
• Corporate Author: National Sheriffs' Association (NSA)
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRESENTED TO THE FORTY-FIRST ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SOUTHWEST SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, HOUSTON, TEXAS, APRIL 12-15, 1978

Annotation

THE DOCUMENT EXAMINES THE EXTENT TO WHICH RESIDENTS OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, VIRGINIA, ATTRIBUTE CRIMINAL DEVIANCE IN THEIR COUNTY TO 'OUTSIDE ELEMENTS' AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH SUCH ATTRIBUTION MATCHES KNOWN DATA ON OFFENDERS.

Abstract

AN INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED BY MEANS OF A TELEPHONE SURVEY OF 150 RESIDENTS OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY SELECTED ON A RANDOM BASIS. PARTICIPANTS WERE ASKED WHAT PERCENTAGE OF SERIOUS CRIMES IN THE COUNTY THEY BELIEVE WAS COMMITTED BY NONRESIDENTS OF THE AREA AND BY MEMBERS OF MINORITY GROUPS. IT WAS HYPOTHESIZED AND PROVEN THAT RESIDENTS OF A RURAL COUNTY WOULD ATTRIBUTE A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF SERIOUS CRIME TO OUTSIDE RESIDENTS THAN WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN COMMITTED BY OUTSIDERS. IT WAS ADDITIONALY SHOWN THAT RURAL RESIDENTS WOULD ATTRIBUTE A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF KNOWN SERIOUS CRIMES TO MINORITY GROUP MEMBERS ACTUALLY COMMITTED. ALTHOUGH 13.33 PERCENT OF THE SERIOUS CRIME IN THE COUNTY WAS COMMITTED BY NONRESIDENTS OF THE AREA, THE SAMPLE GROUP ATTRIBUTED 31.3 PERCENT OF THE CRIME TO OUTSIDERS. SIMILARLY, ALTHOUGH 7.7 PERCENT OF THE CRIME WAS ACTUALLY COMMITTED BY MEMBERS OF A MINORITY GROUP, THE SAMPLE GROUP BELIEVED THAT MINORITY MEMBERS HAD COMMITTED 37.5 PERCENT. THE SOCIAL FUNCTIONS SERVED BY PROJECTION OF CONFLICTS AND PROBLEMS ONTO SCAPEGOATS ARE DISCUSSED. TABULAR AND GRAPHIC DATA ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)