Don't Help Victims of Crime If You Don't Have the Time: Assessing Support for Good Samaritan Laws

• NCJ Number: 231762
• Journal: Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 38 Issue: 4 Dated: July/August 2010 Pages: 790-795
• Author(s): Victoria Time; Brian K. Payne; Randy R. Gainey
• Date Published: July 2010
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research); Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: Netherlands

Annotation

This article describes a pilot study involving a survey of 134 "bystanders" to determine their attitudes about helping and their support for laws mandating that bystanders help crime victims.

Abstract

Criminologists tend to study crimes that include active behaviors by offenders. Much less attention is given to inaction - or crimes that are defined by the absence of behaviors. A number of different crimes of omission, however, are included within State statutes. In recent times, a great deal of legislative attention has been directed towards whether Good Samaritan laws should be developed- laws that require bystanders to help those who are imperiled. Results of the current study overwhelmingly indicated that they would help others themselves, but there was mixed support for laws requiring that individuals help those in need. Support for Bad Samaritan laws was related to age and education. Implications are provided. (Published Abstract)