People's Justice - A Major Poll of Public Attitudes on Crime and Punishment

• NCJ Number: 86898
• Author(s): S Shaw
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 33 pages
• Corporate Author: Prison Reform Trust
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; Prison Reform Trust
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

A sample of the British public expressed concern over the increasing crime rate and were somewhat concerned over prison conditions.

Abstract

Many respondents felt that the courts discriminate against the poor and minorities. Many revealed little knowledge of how the judical system works. Respondents' level of concern over prison conditions was high enough to merit additional Government funding for corrections but would not justify a massive expansion in prison spending. The sample favored constructive alternatives to imprisonment, particularly community service work and reparation. Most people thought that the courts should consider the offender's age, family background, mental state, and previous convictions when determining a sentence. Most felt that imprisonment is appropriate only for violent crimes. Although two-thirds of the sample who had been crime victims failed to report the crime to police, the crime repoting rate was substantially higher than in a previous study. Study data are included, and 13 reference notes are appended.