Minor Offences and the Fixed Penalty System: A Survey in England and Wales (From Public Attitudes to Sentencing, P 160-177, 1988, Nigel Walker and Mike Hough, eds. -- See NCJ-114405)

• NCJ Number: 114411
• Author(s): S Orton; J Vennard
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 18 pages
• Sale Source: Avebury Publishing Co
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A survey was conducted of a random sample of 2,398 households in England and Wales to explore attitudes on the perceived seriousness of 15 selected minor offenses and beliefs regarding their enforcement.

Abstract

Not buying a road fund license, taking items from work, drunk and disorderly behavior, tax evasion, and television license evasion were rated among the most serious offenses; while not buying a dog license, trespassing on land, parking illegally, and copying a record or tape were rated as least serious. Some differences by sex were found, and perceived seriousness of offenses tended to increase with age. Of eight selected offenses all were perceived as worth enforcing, although 46 percent felt dog licensure not worth enforcing. Beliefs about the harm done to others, the risk of detection, and the social and financial costs of conviction all played a role in respondents' assessment of whether an offense was worth the risk of getting caught. For three selected offenses, estimated detection and prosecution rates were associated with perceived seriousness. Finally, respondents favored a fixed-penalty system for minor offenses, feeling that it would bring about savings in court and police time and paperwork. 8 tables, 1 note, and 7 references.