NCJ Number
86376
Date Published
1982
Length
173 pages
Annotation
A total of 2230 Swedish citizens responded to short and long forms of survey questionnaires designed to elicit information on public knowledge of the law, perception of the seriousness of different crimes, and the resulting sentences if convicted of different crimes. Respondents also revealed their attitudes toward the justice system and answered questions on why citizens obey the law.
Abstract
The survey indicated that public knowledge of what actions were punishable crimes was good, although knowledge of civil law was less keen. Knowledge of the kind of punishment for certain crimes was better than knowledge of the maximum sentences. In the area of legal knowledge, men had slightly higher scores than women, the better educated and persons with higher social status had better knowledge than poorer and less educated respondents, and older citizens had better knowledge of the existence of sanctions for certain crimes, while younger persons were more likely to know the maximums for certain sanctions. The respondents showed a mild attitude when asked to give perceptions of just punishments for specific crimes. Property and violent crimes received the strictest sentences. The circumstances surrounding the crime and the moral implications were the most influential factors in determining the sentence severity in the public's mind. Respondents disagreed on the purpose of various punishments, but did see a need for stricter sentences in general (regardless of the contradictory result when asked appropriate sentences for certain crime types). Most respondents saw the legal system as just and held laws in high respect. Answering questions on why citizens obey laws, respondents generally answered 'Because it is right to obey laws.' A less frequent answer was because of fear of sanctions. Implications, additional results, and related comments are included. The survey instrument and about 100 references are provided.