NCJ Number
40008
Date Published
1976
Length
78 pages
Annotation
FINAL REPORT ON A STUDY OF THE DETERRENT EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SANCTION RESOURCES EMPLOYED BY CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES TO CONTROL FELONIES FOR EACH OF EIGHT FELONY CRIMES, AS DEFINED IN CALIFORNIA'S CRIMINAL CODE.
Abstract
CRIME REPORT AND AGENCY TRANSACTION DATA WERE GATHERED FOR THE YEARS 1969-1971 FROM THE HOLDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA BUREAU OF CRIMINAL STATISTICS. CRIMES UNDER STUDY WERE HOMICIDE, NON-VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER, ROBBERY, ASSAULT, BURGLARY, GRAND THEFT, AUTO THEFT, AND RAPE. THE DETERRENT EFFECT OF SANCTIONS WAS MEASURED BY ESTIMATING THE MAGNITUDE AND DIRECTION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LEVEL OF SANCTION EXERCISED AT EACH OF FOUR STAGES OF THE JUSTICE PROCESS AND THE CRIME RATE FOR EACH OF THE EIGHT CRIMES SELECTED FOR STUDY. THE FOUR STAGES EXAMINED WERE ARREST, PRETRIAL, CONVICTION, AND SENTENCING. THE FINDINGS REVEALED THAT SANCTION SCORES WERE HIGHEST FOR HOMICIDE AND LOWEST FOR AUTO THEFT; THAT THE WIDEST RANGE OCCURS AT THE POLICE STAGE; AND THAT THE DETERRENT EFFECT OF JUSTICE SANCTIONS ARE GREATER IN METROPOLITAN THAN IN RURAL COUNTIES. DATA TABLES ARE PROVIDED TO FACILITATE ANALYSIS OF RESULTS, AND APPENDIXES CONTAIN CLASSIFICATIONS OF CRIMES STUDIED AND ADDITIONAL TABLES OF DATA COLLECTED AND COMPARED IN THE STUDY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...EB