NCJ Number
52973
Journal
MONATTSCHRIFT FUER KRIMINOLOGIE UND STRAFRECHTSREFORM Volume: 61 Issue: 4 Dated: (JULY 1978) Pages: 229-237
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE ATTITUDE TOWARD CRIMINALS OF INDIVIDUALS PERSONALLY ACQUAINTED WITH OFFENDERS OR FAMILIAR WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING A VICTIM IS INVESTIGATED IN TWO STUDIES.
Abstract
IN THE FIRST TEST, DATA ARE DERIVED FROM 286 QUESTIONNAIRES THAT WERE COMPLETED BY RESIDENTS OF BADEN-WURTTEMBERG AND DESIGNED TO MEASURE AUTHORITARIAN, RETRIBUTIVE, SUPPORTIVE, AND MILIEU-ORIENTED ATTITUDES, AS WELL AS SOCIAL DISTANCE FROM A HYPOTHETICAL YOUNG EX-CONVICT; IN THE SECOND, DATA COME FROM 278 QUESTIONNAIRES COMPLETED BY BADEN-WURTTEMBERG RESIDENTS AND INTENDED TO TEST REACTIONS TO BOTH YOUTH AND ADULT OFFENDERS. AS IN PREVIOUS LITERATURE, RESULTS SUGGEST THAT PERSONS, ESPECIALLY WOMEN, WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF CRIMES HAVE LESS AUTHORITARIAN AND MORE SUPPORTIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD CRIMINALS THAN THOSE WHO HAVE NOT, AND THAT SOCIAL DISTANCE IS GREATER TO BOTH YOUNG AND ADULT PERSONS KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF CRIMES, ESPECIALLY IF THE CRIMES INVOLVE PHYSICAL VIOLENCE, BUT THAT PERSONAL ACQUAINTANCE IMPROVES WILLINGNESS TO ASSOCIATE WITH EX-CONVICTS. VICTIMS APPEAR TO HAVE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED THE CRIMINALS' MOTIVATIONS, CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE CRIME, AND THE APPROPRIATE FORM OF PUNISHMENT. THE EFFECTS ON INDIVIDUALS' ATTITUDES OF FAMILIARITY WITH JUSTICE INSTITUTIONS AND CAUSES OF CRIMES, AS WELL AS PROCESSES OF CHANGE IN ATTITUDE HAVE YET TO BE STUDIED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT CONTACT BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND CRIMINAL LAW ENFORCEMENT INSTITUTIONS WILL NOT PRODUCE MORE VINDICTIVE ATTITUDES OR INHIBIT REFORM PROJECTS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS ARE SUPPLIED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)