NCJ Number
106749
Date Published
1985
Length
24 pages
Annotation
Oregon citizens' perceptions of crime, their opinions on current criminal justice issues, and their involvement in crime prevention are analyzed for the period 1983-1985.
Abstract
Questionnaires were mailed to a random sample of 1,500 citizens from the Oregon drivers' license file. Survey data showed that the perception of crime had decreased in 1983, but had risen in 1985 to 43 percent from 29 percent in 1984. Support for community corrections programs rose for the first time in 1983 but decreased in 1984 and 1985. In 1985, more than half found child abuse 'much more' serious than 5 years before. Support increased each year for locating correctional facilities in communities for first-time juvenile offenders, while support decreased for facilities for repeat juvenile and adult offenders. In 1985, support increased for punishment as the primary purpose of incarceration for adults and for juveniles. For all 3 years, jail or prison was the approved way of dealing with the majority of offender types. The longest sentence time suggested was in 1985: 10 years or more for repeatedly selling cocaine or heroin. Citizens agreed three times that the following tasks could be dropped from reduced police budgets: crowd control; responding to complaints; arresting for victimless crimes; and, in 1985, searching for marijuana grown for personal use. 37 charts.