NCJ Number
14979
Date Published
1974
Length
32 pages
Annotation
PERCEPTIONS OF INCREASING CRIME RATES STIMULATING FEAR OF VICTIMIZATION LINKED TO BELIEF IN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PUNISHMENT AND WILLINGNESS TO EMPLOY IT ARE CONSIDERED TO BE A MAJOR PERCEPTUAL SYSTEM FAVORING CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
Abstract
QUESTIONNAIRES WERE COMPLETED BY 32.6 PERCENT OF THE SAMPLE TO WHICH THEY WERE SENT. DISPROPORTIONATELY LARGE NUMBERS OF RESPONDENTS WERE RELATIVELY OLDER, BETTER EDUCATED, MORE AFFLUENT, AND WHITE - DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH SUPPORT FOR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT FINDINGS GAVE VALIDITY TO THE THEORETICAL MODEL WHICH HYPOTHESIZED THAT MANY PEOPLE SUPPORT THE DEATH PENALTY BECAUSE THEY FEAR BEING THE TARGETS OF CRIMINAL ACTS AND VIEW PUNISHMENT, INCLUDING CAPITAL PUNISHMENT UNDER SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, AS AN EFFECTIVE DETERRENT FOR THE CRIMES THEY MOST FEAR.