JUSTICE AND ITS PUBLIC - THE SOCIAL REPRESENTATION OF THE PENAL SYSTEM (OF FRANCE)

• NCJ Number: 60278
• Author(s): P ROBERT; C FAUGERON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 301 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: 15, Quai Anatole-France
• Corporate Author: Masson - Medecine et Hygiene
• Sale Source: Masson - Medecine et Hygiene
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: French
• Country: Switzerland
• Note: COLLECTION DEVIANCE ET SOCIETE

Annotation

THIS SWISS STUDY EXPLORES PUBLIC REACTIONS TO FRENCH CRIMINAL POLICY AND ATTITUDES ABOUT THE FRENCH CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, BY SENDING QUESTIONNAIRES TO 1,686 PERSONS AGED 15-69 IN FRANCE.

Abstract

THE PERSONS CONTACTED FOR THIS STUDY WERE CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO SEX, AGE, PROFESSION OF THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY, GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF RESIDENCE, AND EMPLOYMENT STATUS. THE 72 QUESTIONS COVERED SUCH SUBJECTS AS THE REAL AND IDEAL GOALS OF THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, THE CAUSES OF DELINQUENCY, OFFENDERS' RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THEIR CRIMES, ATTITUDES TOWARD PUNISHMENT, LABELING, CONFIDENCE IN THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, FEELING OF MANIPULATION, SLOWNESS OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, NECESSITY OF PREVENTIVE DETENTION, OPINION ON THE DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS OF THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, AND ABILITY TO IDENTIFY WITH A PARTICULAR MEMBER OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. TWO BASIC ATTITUDES WERE REVEALED: (1) MANICHEISM (A TENDENCY TO CLASSIFY INDIVIDUALS AS EITHER ENTIRELY GOOD OR ENTIRELY EVIL) VERSUS NONMANICHEISM AND (2) CONFORMITY VERSUS NONCONFORMITY. THE RESPONSES SHOWED THAT: THE RANGE OF FRENCH OPINION WAS STRONGLY ORIENTED TOWARD THE PAST, REFLECTING OUTDATED IDEOLOGICAL POSITIONS--YET STARTING TO SHOW SIGNS OF CHANGE; THE TYPE OF OPINIONS CONCERNING THE PENAL SYSTEM WAS NOT DIRECTLY LINKED TO AN INDIVIDUAL'S SOCIAL POSITION, AND NO GROUP APPEARED AS A HOMOGENEOUS, FIXED IDEOLOGICAL BLOCK IN ALL MATTERS OF PUBLIC OPINION; AND FINALLY, THE PRESENT FRENCH PENAL SYSTEM FULLFILLS THE FUNCTION OF A LAST RESORT MEASURE TO BE USED ONLY IF OTHER MEASURES OF SOCIAL CONTROL (PREVENTION, TREATMENT) FAIL, WHILE, IN THE WAKE OF GREATER DEMAND FOR LAW, ORDER, AND SECURITY, THE PENAL SYSTEM IS CONSTANTLY EXPANDING ITS SPHERE OF INFLUENCE--THE FRENCH POPULATION IS NOT YET AWARE OF THIS CONTRADICTION. EXTENSIVE NOTES AND INDEXES, AND COMPLETE DESCRIPTIONS OF BOTH THE THEORETICAL BACKGROUND AND METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY ARE PROVIDED. --IN FRENCH (SAJ)