NCJ Number
60529
Journal
Criminology Volume: 27 Issue: 2 Dated: (AUGUST 1979) Pages: 242-250
Date Published
1979
Length
9 pages
Annotation
A REPLICATION AND EXTENSION OF DEJONG'S RESEARCH IN EQUITY THEORY IS PRESENTED, WITH STUDY RESULTS SUPPORTING THE CONSTRUCT VALIDITY OF INEQUITY BETWEEN OFFENDERS AND VICTIM.
Abstract
EQUITY THEORISTS CONCEIVE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AS AN ATTEMPT TO RESTORE EQUITY BETWEEN VICTIM AND OFFENDER. THE FUNCTION OF JUDGES AND JURIES IS TO ASSIGN PUNISHMENT TO AN OFFENDER WHICH WILL OFFSET THE HARM DONE TO THE VICTIM. THIS RESEARCH EXAMINES THE PUNISHMENT DECISIONS OF 166 COLLEGE STUDENT RESPONDENTS, 36 OF WHOM ARE EMPLOYED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. COMPARISON OF THE DECISIONS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONDENTS AND NONCRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONDENTS PROVIDES A TEST OF TWO CONSTRUCTS IN EQUITY THEORY. FIRST, CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONDENTS WILL ASSIGN HARSHER PUNISHMENTS IN EACH CONDITION OF SERIOUSNESS, RESPONSIBILITY, AND FATE OF ACCOMPLICE. SECOND, THE EFFECT OF THE ACCOMPLICES' FATE ON PUNISHMENT DECISIONS WILL BE WEAKER AMONG CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONDENTS THAN AMONG THE OTHERS. ALL RESPONDENTS RECEIVED A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF AN ARMED ROBBERY OF A RESTAURANT OWNER BY THE OFFENDER AND HIS ACCOMPLICE. THERE WERE EIGHT VERSIONS OF THE CRIME. HALF OF THE RESPONDENTS READ THAT THE VICTIM WAS FATALLY SHOT DURING THE ROBBERY; THE OTHER HALF READ THAT THE VICTIM WAS MERELY UPSET BY THE INCIDENT. OTHER VARIATIONS INCLUDED THE DEGREE OF OFFENDER-ACCOMPLICE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CRIME AND ARREST OR NONARREST OF THE OFFENDER AND/OR THE ACCOMPLICE. THE RESULTS, SUPPORTIVE OF BOTH CONSTRUCTS, INDICATE THAT RESPONDENTS PUNISHED THE OFFENDER MORE HARSHLY FOR THE SERIOUS CRIME, AND RESPONDENTS EMPLOYED IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE OCCUPATIONS PUNISHED THE OFFENDER IN ALL VERSIONS OF THE CRIME MORE HARSHLY THAN RESPONDENTS NOT SO EMPLOYED. EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW MAY REQUIRE MORE DETAILED ATTENTION TO JUDGES' AND JURORS' PERCEPTIONS OF INEQUITY. REFERENCES AND NOTES ARE INCLUDED. (LWM)