SOURCES OF PRO-CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM SENTIMENT - THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN KNOWLEDGE ABOUT AND SUPPORT FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

• NCJ Number: 55444
• Author(s): R W FAGAN
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 185 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY - DOCTORAL DISSERTATION

Annotation

EMPLOYING A SAMPLE OF 1,149 CITIZENS AND 292 CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSIONALS, THIS STUDY EXAMINED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND SUPPORT FOR THE SYSTEM.

Abstract

IN ITS EXAMINATION OF PROCRIMINAL JUSTICE SENTIMENT, THIS PAPER FOCUSED ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM KNOWLEDGE AND SUPPORT. THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WAS DIVIDED INTO ITS THREE COMPONENT PARTS, POLICE, COURTS, AND CORRECTIONS. THE CITIZEN SAMPLE WAS SYSTEMATICALLY CHOSEN FROM TELEPHONE LISTINGS IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. THE SAMPLING METHOD USED FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSIONALS IS NOT DETAILED. THE STUDY HAD A 64 PERCENT RESPONSE RATE FOR THE CITIZEN GROUP AND A 79 PERCENT RESPONSE RATE FOR THE PROFESSIONAL GROUP. THIS STUDY EXAMINED FOUR HYPOTHESES: (1) PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS LOWER THAN THAT OF PROFESSIONALS; (2) THE PUBLIC HAS GREATER KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE POLICE THAN IT DOES ABOUT THE COURTS AND CORRECTIONS; (3) THERE IS A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INCOME AND EDUCATION AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE SYSTEM; AND (4) THERE IS A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE SYSTEM. EXAMINING THE DATA, ONLY PARTIAL SUPPORT WAS FOUND FOR THE FIRST HYPOTHESIS; THE PUBLIC WAS LESS KNOWLEDGEABLE THAN PROFESSIONALS ABOUT THE COURTS AND CORRECTIONS, BUT NOT ABOUT THE POLICE. THE SECOND HYPOTHESIS WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE DATA; THE PUBLIC HAD THE MOST KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, FOLLOWED BY KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE COURTS, THEN THE POLICE. A LOOK AT THE THIRD HYPOTHESIS INDICATED A TREND THAT PERSONS WITH HIGHER INCOME AND EDUCATION HAD MORE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. FINALLY, THE FOURTH HYPOTHESIS WAS UNSUPPORTED, EXCEPT FOR A RELATIONSHIP FOUND BETWEEN BEING ARRESTED AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE COURTS. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE POLICE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHTER THAN WAS SUPPORT FOR THE COURTS AND CORRECTIONS. INCREASED KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TENDED TO REDUCE THE RATE OF EXTREMELY POSITIVE RESPONSES, AND SLIGHTLY INCREASED THE RATE OF NEGATIVE EVALUATIONS. TABLES AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--MLC)