NCJ Number
57583
Journal
British Journal of Addiction Volume: 72 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1977) Pages: 357-364
Date Published
1977
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY FINDS THAT SUCH VARIABLES AS THE DEFENDANT'S BACKGROUND OR OCCUPATION AND THE JUROR'S ATTITUDES TOWARD THE OFFENSE SIGNIFICANTLY INFLUENCE ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE OFFENDER AND THE SENTENCES WHICH ARE RECOMMENDED.
Abstract
EIGHT HYPOTHETICAL CASE STUDIES INVOLVING DRUG OFFENDERS WERE USED TO EXAMINE THE EFFECTS OF OFFENDER CHARACTERISTICS. SUBJECTS WERE 61 FEMALE AND 18 MALE PSYCHIATRIC NURSING STUDENTS FROM MANITOBA, CANADA, MEAN AGE 20.4 YEARS. EACH CASE DESCRIBED A YOUNG MAN OF APPROXIMATELY AGE 24 WHO HAD BEEN CONVICTED OF A DRUG OFFENSE; CHARACTERISTICS MANIPULATED INCLUDED SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS (HIGH VERSUS LOW OCCUPATIONAL), WHETHER THE CONVICTION WAS MADE BY A JUDGE ALONE OR BY A JUDGE AND JURY, AND WHETHER THIS WAS FIRST OFFENSE OR PART OF AN EXTENSIVE CRIMINAL RECORD. REPEATED OFFENDERS WERE SEEN AS MORE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS (P LESS THAN 0.02), LESS LIKELY TO BE THE VICTIMS OF CIRCUMSTANCE (P LESS THAN 0.001), AND DESERVING OF A LONGER SENTENCE. PERSONS FOUND GUILTY BY A JUDGE ALONE WERE MORE OFTEN SEEN AS VICTIMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCE; THOSE FOUND GUILTY BY A JUDGE AND JURY WERE SEEN AS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN ACTS. THE SUBJECTS WERE MORE LENIENT WITH LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC OFFENDERS, ATTRIBUTING THEIR BEHAVIOR TO ENVIRONMENT OR CIRCUMSTANCES AND RECOMMENDED SHORTER SENTENCES. AGE AND SEX OF THE SUBJECT WERE NOT SIGNIFICANT, BUT ATTITUDE TOWARD DRUGS WAS. THOSE WHO WERE MORE LIBERAL HAD A MORE LENIENT ATTITUDE TOWARD THE OFFENDER. THE STUDY CONTAINS CHARTS, A STATISTICAL DISCUSSION, AND REFERENCES. (GLR)