NCJ Number
26955
Date Published
1973
Length
127 pages
Annotation
FINDINGS OF TWO LARGE-SCALE AUSTRALIAN SURVEYS EXAMINING PUBLIC CONCERN OF CRIME, ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE AGENCIES OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND TOWARDS SENTENCING, AND ANALYZING THE CHARACTERISTICS AND OPINIONS OF CRIME VICTIMS.
Abstract
IN RESEARCHING THE SO-CALLED 'COMMON MAN'S' OPINIONS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE MATTERS, THE AUTHORS SPENT CONSIDERABLE EFFORT IN PIECING TOGETHER THE COMPLEX PICTURE OF ATTITUDES TOWARDS CRIME AND JUSTICE AND OF THE SUBSEQUENT REFLECTION OF THESE ATTITUDES IN SOCIAL AND PERSONAL BEHAVIOR. THE AUTHORS ALSO EXPLORE THE AMOUNT OF CONCERN AND FEAR ABOUT CRIME IN AUSTRALIA AND COMPARE THIS WITH THE LEVEL IN THE U.S. THEY PRESENT A MODEL (APPLICABLE, THEY BELIEVE, IN MOST WESTERN COUNTRIES) WHICH DEMONSTRATES THAT A DANGEROUS CHAIN REACTION OCCURS WHEN SENSATIONAL MEDIA COVERAGE OF CRIME RAISES THE LEVEL OF PUBLIC ANXIETY ABOUT CRIMINAL MATTERS AND GENERATES CRIES FOR MORE POLICE POWERS, CURTAILMENT OF CIVIL LIBERTIES, AND HARSHER CRIMINAL PENALTIES. TO HALT THIS CHAIN REACTION THE AUTHORS RECOMMEND SUCH THINGS AS GREATER CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM'S FUNCTIONING, GREATER OFFENDER-COMMUNITY CONTACT, AND INCREASED FEEDBACK ON RESULTS OF POLICE INVESTIGATIONS TO PERSONS WHO REPORT CRIMES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)