NCJ Number
52900
Journal
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 141-147
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
A NOVEL QUESTIONNAIRE APPROACH WAS USED TO FIND OUT HOW THE PUBLIC VIEWS THE OFFENSE OF DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. IT WAS FOUND THAT DRUNKEN DRIVING IS CONSIDERED A MAJOR OFFENSE.
Abstract
THE QUESTIONNAIRE CONSISTED OF 20 SHORT STORIES, OF ABOUT 60 WORDS LONG AND RELATED TO DIFFERENT OFFENSES COMMITTED BY MEN OF VARYING AGE AND SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS. THE RESPONDENT WAS ASKED TO ASSESS AN APPROPRIATE PENALTY FOR EACH OFFENSE. THE QUESTIONNAIRE WAS GIVEN TO PROFESSORS AND GRADUATE STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA; TO WORKERS AT THE STATE HEALTH LABORATORIES IN SHENTON PARK, AUSTRALIA; AND TO FRIENDS OF THE STUDENTS AND THE AUTHORS. RESPONSES WERE OBTAINED FROM 51 WOMEN AND 51 MEN, MEAN AGE 33 YEARS. IT WAS FOUND THAT DRUNKEN DRIVING WAS CONSIDERED A MAJOR OFFENSE, RANKING EIGHTH ON A 20-POINT SCALE. (MURDER, ARMED ROBBERY WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER, RAPE, BURGLARY, MANSLAUGHTER, EMBEZZLEMENT, AND LIVING OFF IMMORAL EARNINGS RANKED HIGHER.) THE RESPONSES ARE ANALYZED FOR DRINKING OR NONDRINKING OF THE RESPONDENT AND FOR HIGH PUNITIVE OR LOW PUNITIVE RESPONSES. NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE WAS FOUND IN RANKING. (IT IS PARENTHETICALLY NOTED THAT THE ONLY OFFENSE WHICH SHOWED A STRONG SEX DIFFERENCE WAS CARNAL KNOWLEDGE, WHICH RECEIVED A SIGNIFICANTLY MORE SERIOUS RATING FROM WOMEN. HIGHLY PUNITIVE SUBJECTS AWARDED SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER PENALTIES FOR INCOME TAX OFFENSE AND HIGHER PENALTIES FOR ILLEGALLY USING A CAR.) TABLES PRESENT STUDY DATA. THE ENTHUSIASM WITH WHICH PEOPLE ASKED FOR AND FILLED OUT THE QUESTIONNAIRE IS DESCRIBED. THE QUESTIONNAIRE STORIES ARE REPRINTED. (GLR)