NCJ Number
70856
Date Published
1980
Length
59 pages
Annotation
The results of a survey which measured Michigan residents' opininons about the State's criminal justice system, their fears of crime, and their first-hand experience with crime are presented.
Abstract
Interviews were conducted in-person March 5-22, 1980, in a probability sample of 800 households, distributed in proportion to the distribution of all occupied dwelling units in the State. In each household, one individual age-16 or over was randomly selected for the interview. Most of the questions were the same as those included in the seven previous annual surveys, so that trends could be identified. The results showed that in 20 percent of the households, either the residents or the premises were victims of crime in the past year (17 percent in the 1979 survey). The level of victimization was highest in the central cities, and young people were more often victims than older residents (ages 16 to 24, 23 percent; 25 to 59, 21 percent; over 60, 17 percent). The most common crime was larceny-theft (30 percent), and second to this was burglary (21 percent). Nearly 75 percent of the respondents considered their neighborhoods to be reasonably safe at night. One-fourth of the residents have marked their valuable possessions with permanent ID'S. Communities saw crime as the most serious problem, while cost of living and high taxes were in second place. According to 36 percent of the respondents, the crime problem could be dealt with through stricter penalties and law enforcement, and 35 percent believed more policemen with more power could help. Since 1976, 50 percent or more have perceived organized crime as a serious problem. Only 43 percent felt that local police were doing a good job, while 90 percent believed the State police were effective. About 60 percent of the respondents supported the death penalty for murder, kidnapping, and terrorism, and 37 percent favored a tough gun control law. In the area of penal institutions, 66 percent felt that punishment was the main purpose of prison sentences, and 59 percent saw rehabilitation as most important. Questions and response data are presented in tables and charts, and an appendix contains information on the sample design.