LAW, CRIME AND LEGAL ATTITUDES - NEW ADVANCES IN SCANDINAVIAN RESEARCH ON KNOWLEDGE AND OPINION ABOUT LAW (FROM NEW PATHS IN CRIMINOLOGY, 1979, BY SARNOFF A MEDNICK AND S GIORA SHOHAM - SEE NCJ-55340)

• NCJ Number: 55351
• Author(s): B KUTCHINSKY
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 28 pages
• Corporate Author: Lexington Books
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

AN OVERVIEW OF SCANDINAVIAN RESEARCH ON KNOWLEDGE AND OPINION ABOUT LAW (KOL) IS PRESENTED.

Abstract

EXAMPLES OF KOL RESEARCH IN SWEDEN, NORWAY, AND DENMARK ILLUSTRATE THE DIVERSITY OF PURPOSES AND METHODS TO BE FOUND IN KOL RESEARCH. ONE SWEDISH STUDY EXPLORED, THROUGH A MAIL SURVEY, HYPOTHESES ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PEOPLE'S LEGAL KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES AND THEIR SOCIAL BACKGROUNDS AND PERSONALITIES. A SECOND SWEDISH STUDY TESTED THEORIES ABOUT JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN A SURVEY OF STUDENTS IN STOCKHOLM. IN NORWAY, KOL RESEARCHERS SURVEYED A NATIONWIDE SAMPLE TO DETERMINE HOW LARGE A FINE PEOPLE WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY IN ORDER TO AVOID 30 DAYS IN JAIL FOR DRUNKEN DRIVING. DANISH STUDIES HAVE FOCUSED ON REACTIONS TO CRIME--CONCERN, FEAR, AVOIDANCE BEHAVIOR, MOBILIZATION (SELF-DEFENSE). THE FINDINGS OF THESE STUDIES ARE DISCUSSED, AND COMMENTS ON THE SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF KOL RESEARCH ARE PRESENTED. FOUR GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR KOL RESEARCH ARE SUGGESTED: THE TESTING OF GENERAL PREVENTION THEORIES; THE TESTING OF CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORIES ABOUT THE CAUSES OF CRIME AND DELINQUENCY; STUDIES OF REACTION TO CRIME; AND ASSESSMENTS OF PENAL REFORMS, SUCH AS DIVERSION AND DECRIMINALIZATION. ON THE OTHER HAND, KOL RESEARCH SHOULD NOT BE USED TO CONSTRUCT QUESTIONNAIRES FOR USE IN DIAGNOSING AND PREDICTING CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR IN INDIVIDUALS, OR TO BACK UP REPRESSIVE TENDENCIES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY. (LKM)