NCJ Number
25952
Date Published
Unknown
Length
15 pages
Annotation
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE CHARACTERISTICS AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS CRIMINAL JUSTICE OF 279 RECENT VICTIMS OF CRIME AND 340 NON-VICTIMS AS MEASURED BY RESPONSES TO A MAY/ JUNE 1973 INTERVIEW SURVEY IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA.
Abstract
MOST OF THE DATA IS PRESENTED IN THE FORM OF A RATIO, WITH NON-VICTIMS AS THE BASE. RESPONSES ARE ANALYZED FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL QUESTION. STUDY FINDINGS INDICATE THAT THE VICTIM TENDS TO BE A PERSON WHO IS GENERALLY APPREHENSIVE ABOUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF A CRIME OCCURRING NEAR OR TO HIM AND WHO BELIEVES THAT THE MAIN JOB OF THE POLICE IS THE PREVENTION OF CRIME, NOT THE CATCHING OF CRIMINALS AFTER THE CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED. HE IS ALSO LESS LIKELY THAN NON-VICTIMS TO SAY THAT THE POLICE DO A GOOD JOB AND MORE CRITICAL OF THE JOB THE COURTS ARE DOING AND THE WAY THE PRISONS ARE DEALING WITH CRIME. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN OVERALL TENDENCY FOR RECENT VICTIMS (WITHIN THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS) TO SEE VARIOUS CRIMES AND INJUSTICES, ABOUT WHICH THERE IS CONSIDERABLE PUBLIC CONSENSUS, A LITTLE LESS SERIOUSLY THAN DID OTHER PEOPLE. THE COMPARISON OF VICTIM/NON-VICTIM CHARACTERISTICS REVEALED THAT VICTIMS WERE MORE OFTEN MALE, YOUNGER, WITH HIGHER INCOMES AND OCCUPATIONAL STATUS THAT NON-VICTIMS, FROM BROKEN HOMES, AND SINGLE.