Public Attitudes to Criminal Justice - A West Australian Survey, 1981

• NCJ Number: 89444
• Author(s): R G Broadhurst
• Date Published: 1981
• Length: 96 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Australian Research Council
• Corporate Author: University of Western Australia
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; University of Western Australia
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

This report contains the methodology and research tools along with preliminary results of a survey of 1,500 people in West Australia as to their attitudes on the seriousness of offenses and their opinions of the police, courts, and prisons.

Abstract

Those surveyed favored the heaviest sanctions for violent crime and alternatives to imprisonments for white-collar offenders. They also appear reluctant to view the enforcement of private morality (victimless crimes) as a function of the criminal law. Citizens' attitudes towards the criminal justice system show a great degree of contradiction and disagreement about system objectives and effectiveness. The amount of inconsistency makes it difficult to identify any dominant trend. Generally, citizens are reluctant to extend police power; consider courts too lenient, yet favor more alternatives to prison; and favor tougher prisons, yet do not consider that prisons rehabilitate. Appendixes include the survey questionnaire, relevant crime statutes, and study results. About 80 references, footnotes, and data tables are supplied.