NCJ Number
37095
Journal
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 13 Issue: 2 Dated: (JULY 1976) Pages: 155-164
Date Published
1976
Length
10 pages
Annotation
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE QUESTIONED ON THEIR SUBJECTIVE PERCEPTIONS OF THE CERTAINTY AND SEVERITY OF PUNISHMENT FOR MARIJUANA USE AND SHOPLIFTING TO DETERMINE THE DETERRENT EFFECT OF THESE PERCEPTIONS.
Abstract
THE STUDENTS, ENROLLED IN TWO ONTARIO HIGH SCHOOLS, ANSWERED AN ANONYMOUS QUESTIONNAIRE IN 1973 CONCERNING THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF THE CERTAINTY AND SEVERITY OF PUNISHMENT FOR THEIR FRIENDS AND FOR ANONYMOUS CANADIANS FOR THE OFFENSES OF MARIJUANA USE AND SHOPLIFTING. THEY ALSO PROVIDED THEIR OWN HISTORIES OF MARIJUANA USE AND SHOPLIFTING IN THE LAST THREE YEARS IN 'NEVER', 'ONCE OR TWICE', AND 'THREE PLUS' CATEGORIES. OF 601 QUESTIONNAIRES DISTRIBUTED BY FOUR TEACHERS TO ALL OF THEIR STUDENTS, 421 WERE MAILED BACK FOR A RESPONSE RATE OF 70 PERCENT. THE STUDENTS RANGED IN AGE FROM 13 TO 19. IT WAS FOUND THAT THOSE RESPONDENTS WHO PERCEIVED A HIGHER CERTAINTY OF PUNISHMENT ENGAGED IN LESS MARIJUANA USE AND SHOPLIFTING. THOSE RESPONDENTS WHO PERCEIVED A HIGHER SEVERITY OF PUNSIHMENT DID NOT ENGAGE IN LESS MARIJUANA USE AND SHOPLIFTING. THOSE RESPONDENTS WHO PERCEIVED MARIJUANA USE OF SHOPLIFTING TO BE OFFENSES MALA IN SE ENGAGED IN FEWER OFFENSES, BUT ALSO, IN THE CASE OF SHOPLIFTING, WERE LESS DETERRED BY THREAT OF PUNISHMENT THAN WERE RESPONDENTS WHO DEFINED THAT SHOPLIFTING AS MALA PROHIBITA. THIS DIFFERENCE WAS NOT TRUE FOR MARIJUANA USE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)