NCJ Number
14489
Journal
Social Forces Volume: 52 Issue: 4 Dated: (JUNE 1974) Pages: 455-462
Date Published
1974
Length
8 pages
Annotation
DATA CONCERNING CERTAINTY OF ARREST AND CRIME ARE ANALYZED FOR CITIES AND COUNTIES IN FLORIDA, WITH RESULTS SUPPORTING A DETERRENT ARGUMENT.
Abstract
A DISCUSSION OF THE LINK BETWEEN PUNISHMENT AND CRIME DETERRENCE IS FIRST PRESENTED, SHOWING THAT PROBABILITY OF PUNISHMENT FOR MONCONFORMITY IS A KEY DETERMINANT OF BEHAVIOR. THE DATA FOR THIS STUDY WERE GATHERED FROM THE FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA. CRIME RATE PER 1,000 POPULATION AND ARREST CLEARANCE RATES WERE GRAPHED TO DETERMINE THE DETERRENCE EFFECT OF PUNISHMENT. VARIABLES EMPLOYED FOR STATISTICAL CONTROL INCLUDED AGE, SEX, RACE, AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. CRIME INCIDENCE AND CERTAINTY OF PUNISHMENT WERE FOUND TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY CORRELATED, BUT IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT THERE IS A CRITICAL LEVEL THAT CERTAINTY OF PUNISHMENT MUST REACH BEFORE THERE IS A NOTICEABLE CHANGE IN VOLUME OF CRIME. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).