SALIENCE OF CRIME AND SUPPORT FOR HARSHER CRIMINAL SANCTIONS

• NCJ Number: 59790
• Journal: Social Problems Volume: 26 Issue: 4 Dated: SPECIAL ISSUE (APRIL 1979) Pages: 413-424
• Author(s): D G TAYLOR; K L SCHEPPELE; A L STINCHCOMBE
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 12 pages
• Grant Number(s): SO5 75-14660; SOC 77-14515
• Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation
• Corporate Author: Soc for the Study of Social Problems
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS PAPER EXAMINES THE RELATION BETWEEN THE SALIENCE OF CRIME AND SUPPORT FOR HARSHER LEGAL SANCTIONS. PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE AFRAID OF CRIME OR WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED DO NOT NECESSARILY FAVOR HARSHER PENALTIES.

Abstract

DATA FROM PUBLIC OPINION SURVEYS CONDUCTED BETWEEN 1972 AND 1978 ARE REANALYZED TO DISCERN RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FEAR OF CRIME, BEING THE VICTIM OF CRIME, RACE, NEIGHBORHOOD, AND ATTITUDES TOWARD HARSHER CRIMINAL SANCTIONS (CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, HARSHER COURTS), THE DATA SHOW THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE AFRAID OR WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED ARE NO MORE LIKELY TO SUPPORT HARSHER SANCTIONS THAN THOSE FOR WHOM CRIME IS A LESS SALIENT PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE IN HIGH-CRIME NEIGHBORHOODS ARE NO MORE LIKELY TO SUPPORT PUNITIVE MEASURES THAN THOSE WHO LIVE IN SAFER TERRITORY, PERSONS IN SUCH AREAS ARE LIKELY TO THINK MORE ABOUT CRIME AS A PROBLEM AND TO HAVE LOGICALLY CONSISTENT OR 'IDEOLOGICAL' RESPONSES TO THE CRIME PROBLEM. BLACK RESPONDENTS WERE FAR LESS LIKELY TO FAVOR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT THAN WERE WHITE RESPONDENTS, BUT BLACKS WHO LIVE IN HIGH-CRIME AREAS OR WHO HAVE BEEN PERSONALLY VICTIMIZED ARE AS LIKELY AS WHITES TO FAVOR HARSHER COURTS (APPROXIMATELY 80 PERCENT). BOTH FEAR AND VICTIMIZATION INCREASE DRAMATICALLY WITH EACH INCREASE IN COMMUNITY SIZE, WHICH MEANS THAT RESIDENTS OF LARGER CITIES ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE FIXED OPINIONS REGARDING CRIMINAL SANCTIONS. A CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY WAS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PREDICTOR OF SUPPORT FOR HARSHER SANCTIONS, WITH RESIDENCE IN AN INTEGRATED NEIGHBORHOOD THE NEXT MOST SIGNIFICANT. THERE WAS NO RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ATTITUDES TOWARDS BUSING FOR SCHOOL INTEGRATION AND ATTITUDES REGARDING CRIMINAL SANCTIONS. NUMEROUS NOTES AND TABLES ILLUSTRATE THE ANALYSIS AND REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)