NCJ Number
59454
Date Published
1975
Length
335 pages
Annotation
A SURVEY OF THE ATTITUDES OF POLICE, GRADUATE STUDENTS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICERS TOWARD RESTITUTION AND MORE TRADITIONAL CONCEPTS OF PUNISHMENT IS DOCUMENTED.
Abstract
THE SURVEY SAMPLE INCLUDED 170 OFFICERS OF THE LAKEWOOD, COLO., POLICE DEPARTMENT, 76 SECOND-YEAR SOCIAL WORK GRADUATE STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER, 106 MEMBERS OF A WOMEN'S COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATION IN DENVER, 246 COLORADO PROBATION OFFICERS (ADULT AND JUVENILE), 15 COLORADO PAROLE OFFICERS (JUVENILE), AND 92 MINNESOTA PAROLE OFFICERS (ADULT). (UNLIKE COLORADO, MINNESOTA HAS A RESTITUTION PROGRAM). RESPONSES WERE RECEIVED FROM 427 OF THE 705 PERSONS CONTACTED. THE MAJOR FINDING OF THE SURVEY WAS STRONG SUPPORT FOR AND ACCEPTANCE OF RESTITUTION. SUPPORT FOR RESTITUTION WAS SOMEWHAT LESS PRONOUNCED AMONG POLICE. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF POLICE, THE SURVEY SAMPLE ALSO SUPPORTED THE REHABILITATION CONCEPT. PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED OTHER TRADITIONAL CONCEPTS OF PUNISHMENT (RETRIBUTION, DETERRENCE, SOCIAL DEFENSE, IMPRISONMENT) RESPONDED POSITIVELY TO RESTITUTION, BUT LESS POSITIVELY THAN DID PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED REHABILITATION. HIGHER LEVELS OF EDUCATION WERE ASSOCIATED WITH SUPPORT FOR REHABILITATION AND NONSUPPORT FOR OTHER TRADITIONAL CONCEPTS OF PUNISHMENT. THE FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT RESTITUTION PROGRAMS WOULD AROUSE LESS RESISTANCE THAN MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXPECTED, BOTH WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND AMONG THE PUBLIC. AS THE THEORETICAL LEVEL, THE REHABILITATION. THE STRONG SUPPORT FOR RESTITUTION AND REHABILITATION. THE STRONG SUPPORT FOR RESTITUTION AND REHABILITATION FOUND IN THE SURVEY STANDS IN THE MARKED CONTRAST TO POLICY TRENDS IN CORRECTIONS. IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS AND DIRECTIONS FOR RESEARCH ARE DISCUSSED. A LITERATURE REVIEW, A BIBLIOGRAPHY, SUPPORTING DATA AND DOCUMENTATION, AND COPIES OF SURVEY INSTRUMENTS ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)