CRIME, PUNISHMENT AND PERSONALITY - AN EXAMINATION OF THE DETERRENCE QUESTION

• NCJ Number: 35465
• Journal: Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume: 67 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1976) Pages: 99-109
• Author(s): W C BAILEY; R P LOTT
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: Northwestern University
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS ADMINISTERED TO COLLEGE SOCIOLOGY CLASS STUDENTS THAT WAS TO DETERMINE THE INDIVIDUAL'S PERCEPTION OF THE DETERRENT EFFECTS OF PUNISHMENT SEVERITY AND CERTAINTY IF THEY HAD COMMITTED THE CRIME.

Abstract

THIS DIFFERENTIATES THIS STUDY FROM OTHERS IN THAT MOST OTHERS MERELY ASK THE STUDENTS TO SPECULATE ON THE SITUATIONS OF OTHER PERSONS. THIS STUDY FOUND THAT PERCEPTIONS OF SEVERITY AND CERTAINTY OF PUNISHMENT PROVED GENERALLY UNRELATED TO REPORTED CRIMINAL INVOLVEMENT IN EACH OFFENSE. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERCEIVED SEVERITY OF BOTH OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL SANCTIONS AND REPORTED BEHAVIOR WAS FOUND TO BE GENERALLY UNAFFECTED BY PERCEIVED CERTAINTY OF ARREST. PERSONALITY FACTORS WERE GENERALLY UNRELATED TO REPORTED CRIME INVOLVEMENT.