NCJ Number
13805
Journal
GEORGIA JOURNAL OF CORRECTIONS Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (AUGUST 1973) Pages: 71-75
Date Published
1973
Length
5 pages
Annotation
SURVEY OF PUBLIC ATTITUDES ON THE IDEAL PUNISHMENT THE COURTS SHOULD AWARD FOR SPECIFIC CRIMES.
Abstract
THIS PAPER PRESENTS DATA ON THE DEGREE OF HOMOGENEITY OF VALUES IN TERMS OF THE IDEAL EXTENT OF SENTENCES FOR ARMED ROBBERY, AUTO THEFT, THE SELLING OF NARCOTICS, RAPE, THE PASSING OF BAD CHECKS, AND ARSON. IN A GALLUP POLL QUESTIONS WERE ASKED RELATING TO PENALTY OR PRISON SENTENCE FOR THE CRIMES LISTED ABOVE AND WHETHER THE COURTS DEAL TOO HARSHLY OR NOT HARSHLY ENOUGH WITH CRIMINALS. THREE-FOURTHS OF THE SAMPLE FELT THAT THE COURTS DID NOT DEAL HARSHLY ENOUGH WITH CRIMINALS. THE RESULTS SHOWED THAT AUTO THEFT AND THE PASSING OF BAD CHECKS ARE GENERALLY VIEWED AS A LESS SERIOUS OFFENSE, AS IS ARSON. IN THE RESPONSES FOR RECOMMENDED SENTENCES FOR THESE CRIMES, THE PUBLIC SHOWS A WIDE DISPARITY OF IDEAL SENTENCES. RAPE AND SELLING OF NARCOTICS ARE VIEWED MORE NEGATIVELY THAN THE OTHER CRIMES. IN EXAMINING OTHER TRENDS IN ATTITUDES, THE AUTHORS FOUND MALES TO BE MORE PUNITIVE THAN FEMALES, WHITES MORE PUNITIVE THAN BLACKS, AND PUNITIVENESS INCREASING WITH AGE. PUNITIVENESS ALSO DECREASED WITH EDUCATION.