PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARD CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES, POLICIES, AND LEVELS OF CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION - A PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF CITIZEN RESPONSES IN PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA

• NCJ Number: 34078
• Author(s): C W THOMAS; C C NELSON
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 45 pages
• Grant Number(s): 73-NI-03-0002; 73-ED-03-0002
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY OF 416 CITY HOUSEHOLDS COVERED CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION EXPERIENCES, CITIZENS' PERCEPTIONS OF CRIME AS A PROBLEM IN PORTSMOUTH, AND ATTITUDES TOWARD CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES, POLICIES AND PROGRAMS.

Abstract

ANALYSIS OF THIS 1973 STUDY DATA REVEALED SIGNIFICANT LEVELS OF CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION AND THE BELIEF AMONG AREA RESIDENTS THAT CRIME IS A MAJOR SOCIAL PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE MAJORITY FELT THAT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THEIR CITY WAS FUNCTIONING IN AN EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE MANNER AND SHOWED A SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST IN SUPPORTING BOTH MORE EXTENSIVE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS AND A GREATER DEGREE OF CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN THE WORK OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES. THE APPENDIX CONTAINS STATISTICAL INFORMATION ON QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES.