NCJ Number
106312
Date Published
1986
Length
193 pages
Annotation
A questionnaire survey, using 20 vignettes of minor crimes over which police officers exercise board discretion, was mailed to a sample of 1,749 police and criminal justice personnel and citizens in Boulder County, Colo.
Abstract
Responses were received from 62 percent (1,077). Results indicate differences among respondent groups in how various minor offenses should be handled. However, differences were not great and generally were among options with a lesser impact (e.g., take no action, warn, or refer to a social service agency) or between options that involve a greater impact on the individual (issue a summons or jail). No significant proportion of any respondent group chose a discretionary option with great impact while another significant proportion of a respondent group chose an option with lesser impact for the same offense. The greatest disagreement between handling of various types of offenses was between police and prosecuting attorneys. Results are discussed in terms of factors influencing the judgments of the various respondent groups. The research instrument and supplemental information is appended. Chapter notes and approximately 140 references.