PERCEIVED PENAL SANCTION AND SELF-REPORTED CRIMINALITY - A NEGLECTED APPROACH TO DETERRENCE RESEARCH

• NCJ Number: 9589
• Author(s): G P WALDO; T G CHIRICO
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 31 pages
• Corporate Author: Florida State University
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ADMITTED MARIJUANA USE AND THEFT, AND PERCEPTIONS OF THE SEVERITY AND CERTAINTY OF PUNISHMENT.

Abstract

THIS RESEARCH IS, IN PART, DIRECTED TOWARDS THE ASSUMPTION THAT PUNISHMENT OF CRIMINAL OFFENDERS WILL DETER FUTURE CRIMINALITY. RESULTS OF INTERVIEWS WITH 321 UNIVERSITY STUDENTS INDICATES THAT' PERCEPTIONS OF SEVERE PUNISHMENT ARE LARGELY UNRELATED TO ADMITTED THEFT OR MARIJUANA USE. THE EXPECTATION THAT ARREST OR MAXIMUM PENALTIES UPON CONVICTION ARE LIKELY FOR ONESELF APPEARS SOMEWHAT RELATED TO LOWER LEVELS OF MARIJUANA USE AND LARCENY. THIS RELATIONSHIP IS STRONGER FOR MARIJUANA USE WHICH IS PROHIBITED BY LAW THAN FOR THEFT WHICH IS EVIL IN ITSELF.' THE AUTHORS CONCLUDE THAT 'THE EFFECTS OF LAW IN DETERRING CRIME ARE PROBABLY NOT AS GREAT, AND CERTAINLY LESS UNIFORM THAN MANY HAVE HERETOFORE ASSUMED.' (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)