NCJ Number
91919
Date Published
1982
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A 1982 mail survey of 1,037 Oregon residents revealed that 39 percent thought crime in their neighborhood had increased; only 3 percent thought it had decreased; and 85 percent supported capital punishment. Respondents rated construction of a new maximum-security prison as the best alternative for prison overcrowding, followed by regional jails and work camps.
Abstract
Both the 1981 and 1982 surveys showed an increased perception of crime, compared to 1979 when only 25 percent thought crime had increased. Most respondents who felt they were likely to be victimized within the next year expected the crime to be either burglary or theft. There continues to be substantial support for community correction programs when they involve first-time violent or property offenders. Although such support had declined significantly since 1978 with regard to adult offenders, it has not dropped correspondingly for first-time juvenile offenders. Respondents felt that protection of society should be a correctional institution's primary purpose, followed by rehabilitation and punishment. Responses suggested several reasons for the May 1982 defeat of the corrections bond measure, notably economic considerations, the proposal's complexity, and its lack of emphasis on secure institutional space. The survey revealed no apparent consensus as to whether the parole release decision should be made by the parole board, the sentencing judge, or another entity. Citizens overwhelmingly felt the insanity plea should be modified or abolished. Unemployment replaced cost of living as the most serious community problem. Most respondents had taken some action during the past year to improve home security, usually contacting neighbors about watching each others' houses or improving locks. Graphs illustrate the survey's findings.