LOUISIANA CRIMINAL JUSTICE SURVEY - FINAL REPORT

• NCJ Number: 58973
• Author(s): P E GROSSER; P R O'CONNOR; N PATERSON; G S TRACY
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 220 pages
• Corporate Author: Louisiana Cmssn on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS REPORT PRESENTS RESULTS OF A 1975 SURVEY OF OVER 1,600 INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE INVOLVED WITH THE LOUISANA CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM; PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARD THE SYSTEM'S COMPONENTS, THE PROBLEM OF CRIME, AND REFORM MEASURES ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

THE LOUISANA COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE MAILED QUESTIONNAIRES TO SAMPLE GROUPS OF POLICE, THE COURT PERSONNEL, THE CORRECTIONAL PERSONNEL, AND OTHER INTERESTED GROUPS. DATA ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT THE MAJORITY ATTRIBUTED CRIME TO SOCIAL FACTORS, PARTICULARLY PERMISSIVENESS IN CODDLING CRIMINALS, DRUG ADDICTION, DECLINE IN RELIGION AND MORALITY, AND RESTRICTIONS ON POLICE. ABOUT HALF THE SAMPLE REJECTED ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL PROBLEMS AS IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTORS TO CRIME. THE DEATH PENALTY WAS FAVORED BY 61 PERCENT, BUT OVER HALF THE RESPONDENTS STATED THAT GAMBLING, PROSTITUTION, SALE OF PORNOGRAPHY, AND MARIJUANA POSSESSION SHOULD BE DECRIMINALIZED. THE STUDY REVEALED AN OVERWHELMING AWARENESS OF THE NEED TO IMPROVE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM OPERATIONS, ESPECIALLY IN CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION. THE SURVEY'S FINDINGS ALSO INDICATED SUPPORT FOR SIGNIFICANT REFORM OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. MOST RESPONDENTS FAVORED CREATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTES, IMPROVED MEDICAL AND DENTAL SERVICES FOR PRISONERS, ESTABLISHMENT OF CLEAR LINES OF COMMAND FOR OVERLAPPING POLICE JURISDICTIONS, AND ACTIVE POLICE INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY YOUTH PROGRAMS. APPROXIMATELY HALF THE RESPONDENTS OPPOSED THE RIGHT OF APPEAL OF SENTENCE, THE PROPOSAL THAT POLICE PERSONNEL REFLECT THE ETHNIC AND MINORITY RATIOS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND CONJUGAL VISITS FOR MARRIED PRISONERS. OPPOSITION TO MAKING PROBATION THE STANDARD SENTENCE IN CRIMINAL CASES AND REMOVING PARISH AND MUNICIPAL JAILS FROM LOCAL CONTROL WAS HIGH. THE REPORT CONTAINS A DETAILED EXAMINATION OF THE ATTITUDES EXPRESSED BY THE POLICE, COURTS, AND CORRECTIONS SAMPLE GROUPS. TABLES ARE SUPPLIED; THE SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRES ARE APPENDED.