NCJ Number
81440
Date Published
1979
Length
97 pages
Annotation
Trends in public opinion in the United States regarding such subjects as the rate of crime, the performance of the police, and the desirability of capital punishment are reviewed, based on the results of national surveys conducted by various polling organizations.
Abstract
The three major data sources were The Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics; the Roper Public Opinion Research Center; and the University of Pittsburgh, University Center for Urban Research. Findings show that the public has developed an acute awareness of perceived inadequacies of the criminal justice system during the past decade. Although the performance of the police has consistently been rated as satisfactory, most survey respondents believe that the law enforcement system does not discourage crime. Most Americans also believe that crime is increasing. Social and moral problems, drugs, and the leniency of the criminal courts have been suggested as causes of crime. The public advocates court reform and longer prison sentences as well as the use of capital punishment for persons convicted of murder, as measures to solve the crime problem. Most Americans favor stricter gun control laws. Only a minority favors the legalization or decriminalization of marijuana. However, government surveillance is not recommended as a means of dealing with the crime problem. In addition, strict pornography laws and gambling laws have not been uniformly accepted. Public opinion surveys could be made more useful by covering issues of concern to legislators and criminal justice planners and by establishing efforts to disseminate resulting information more widely. For example, increased familiarity with recent literature concerning rehabilitation and deterrence might influence opinions regarding prison terms. A thorough analysis of public opinion data could provide the basis for empirical research and informed policymaking. Tables, notes, and a list of 46 references are provided.