NCJ Number
25173
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING 1974) Pages: 73-78
Date Published
1974
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY COMPARED THE EXPERIENCES OF MALES AND FEMALES WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF CRIMINAL OFFENSES AND INSTITUTIONALIZED.
Abstract
THE INMATES WERE ASKED ABOUT THEIR ARRESTS, TRIALS, SENTENCINGS, AND INCARCERATIONS, THEIR IMPRESSIONS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND COURT PERSONNEL THEY ENCOUNTERED, AND THEIR FEELINGS ABOUT JUSTICE IN AMERICA AS IT APPLIED TO THEM. IT WAS FOUND THAT SUBSTANTIAL PERCENTAGES OF BOTH THE MALES AND FEMALES IN THE SAMPLE WERE MINORITY GROUP MEMBERS, POORLY EDUCATED, PRODUCTS OF DISORGANIZED FAMILY LIFE, AND INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD EXPERIENCED REPEATED CONTACTS WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. MALES WERE MORE LIKELY THAN FEMALES TO HAVE HAD CONTACTS WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FROM THEIR EARLY TEENS, TO VIEW THE POLICE AS UNNECESSARILY HARSH AND HARASSING, NOT TO HAVE BEEN RELEASED ON BAIL, AND TO HAVE ENTERED GUILTY PLEAS WITHOUT GOING TO TRIAL. THE FEMALES AS A GROUP RECEIVED SWIFTER DISPOSITIONS OF THEIR CASES THAN DID THE MALES. THE VAST MAJORITY OF BOTH MALES AND FEMALES FELT THAT THE SENTENCES THEY RECEIVED WERE TOO HARSH AND THEY WERE DISSATISFIED WITH THEIR LAWYERS' SERVICES. MOST FELT THAT THE POOR CANNOT GET A FAIR TRIAL IN AMERICA. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)