NCJ Number
26022
Journal
Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume: 66 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1975) Pages: 175-188
Date Published
1975
Length
14 pages
Annotation
DEVELOPMENT OF THE OFFENSE SERIOUSNESS SCALE PUBLISHED BY SELLIN AND WOLFGANG IN 1964 IS REVIEWED ALONG WITH SUBSEQUENT MAJOR REPLICATIONS AND REFUTATIONS; THE USEFULNESS OF A SERIOUSNESS SCALE IS ALSO CONSIDERED.
Abstract
THE AUTHORS REPORT ON THEIR OWN RESEARCH WHICH SUPPORTS THE ASSUMPTION OF ADDITIVITY IN THE SERIOUSNESS SCALE; THIS ASSUMPTION WAS IMPLIED BY SELLING AND WOLFGANG BUT NOT EMPIRICALLY TESTED IN THE FORMULATION OF THEIR INDEX. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE SELLIN-WOLFGANG SERIOUSNESS SCALE IS A SOUND THEORETICAL AND RESEARCH MODEL AND THAT IT WAS AN IMPORTANT ADVANCE IN THE HISTORY OF CRIMINOLOGY.