NCJ Number
11936
Date Published
1973
Length
95 pages
Annotation
PRESENTS A PROFILE ON PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT KNOWLEDGE ON ATTITUDES TOWARD THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
Abstract
TO FULFILL THE GOAL OF PRODUCING INFORMATION ON YOUTH LEGAL ORIENTATIONS IN DECEMBER 1972 WE DIVISED PAPER AND PENCIL QUESTIONNAIRES COMPOSED OF PERSONAL BACKGROUND QUESTIONS, SUCH AS AGE, GRADE, SEX, RACE AND SO FORTH, OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS, RELATING TO THE NATURE OF LAW, STRUCTURED KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONS, STRUCTURED ATTITUDE QUESTIONS, AND QUESTIONS ON EXTENT OF TELEVISION VIEWING. THIS QUESTIONNAIRE WAS ADMINISTERED TO A SAMPLE OF ALL THE STUDENTS IN GRADES, ONE, THREE, FIVE, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, AND ELEVEN IN SEVEN NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL SYSTEMS. THE DATA WERE ANALYZED AT THE TRIANGLE UNIVERSITIES COMPUTER CENTER (TUCC) AT THE RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK NORTH CAROLINA. THE FOLLOWING CONCLUSIONS WERE DRAWN GENERALLY, ON THE OPEN-ENDED ITEMS STUDENTS EXHIBIT A LOW COMPREHENSION OF THE MEANING OF 'LAW' OR ARE UNABLE TO EXPRESS THEIR COMPREHENSION, ON BOTH THE OPEN-ENDED AND STRUCTURED QUESTIONS SIGNIFICANT RACIAL DIFFERENCES ARE DISCLOSED. BLACK STUDENT PERFORMANCES ARE GENERALLY BELOW THE WHITE STUDENT PERFORMANCES ON KNOWLEDGE OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM. AGE TRENDS DISCLOSE THAT EFFICACY TOWARD POLICE DROPS AND CYNICISM GOES UP AS STUDENTS GET OLDER. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)