NCJ Number
48092
Journal
Social Problems Volume: 25 Issue: 3 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1978) Pages: 253-264
Date Published
1978
Length
12 pages
Annotation
INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH 1200 RESIDENTS OF TUSCON, ARIZONA, TO EXAMINE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE OBJECTIVE CERTAINTY OF ARREST/INCARCERATION, THE PERCEIVED CERTAINTY OF LEGAL SANCTION, AND SOCIAL DISAPPROVAL.
Abstract
THE OBJECT OF THE STUDY WAS TO EXAMINE THE MAJOR PREMISES OF THE DETERRENCE DOCTRINE WHICH HOLD THAT THE CRIME RATE WILL VARY INVERSELY WITH BOTH THE OBJECTIVE AND PERCEIVED CERTAINTY OF LEGAL SANCTION AND THAT OBJECTIVE CERTAINTY OF PUNISHMENT IS RELATED TO THE CRIME RATE THROUGH PERCEIVED CERTAINTY. INFORMATION ON THE RESEARCH VARIABLES WAS ASSESSED FOR A VARIETY OF CRIMES COMMITTED BY HYPOTHETICAL ADULT OR JUVENILE OFFENDERS. OBJECTIVE CERTAINTY OF LEGAL SANCTION WAS DETERMINED IN TERMS OF ARREST/REPORT AND ALLEGED CASES/CLEARED CASES RATIOS. SPECIFIC OFFENSES EXAMINED WERE HOMICIDE, RAPE, ARMED ROBBERY, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, UNARMED ROBBERY, BURGLARY, GRAND THEFT, VEHICLE THEFT, SIMPLE ASSAULT, AND PETTY THEFT. SOCAL CONDEMNATION WAS ASSESSED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THERE MAY EXIST EXTRALEGAL, CRIME GENERATIVE, OR CRIME INHIBITORY CONDITIONS. THE JUVENILE OR ADULT STATUS OF THE HYPOTHETICAL OFFENDER AND THE METHOD USED TO DETERMINE OBJECTIVE CERTAINTY OF ARREST HAD NO APPRECIABLE CONSEQUENCE FOR THE FINDINGS. ANALYSIS OF DATA INDICATES THAT CONSISTENT WITH THE DETERRENCE PREMISES, CRIME RATE DOES VARY INVERSELY WITH BOTH THE OBJECTIVE CERTAINTY AND THE PERCEIVED CERTAINTY OF LEGAL SANCTION. HOWEVER NONE OF THESE RELATIONSHIPS WERE MORE THAN MODERATELY CLOSE. THE FINDINGS PROVIDE NO SUPPORT FOR THE PREMISE THAT OBJECTIVE CERTAINTY IS RELATED TO CRIME RATE THROUGH PERCEIVED CERTAINTY. MOREOVER, THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERCEIVED CERTAINTY OF PUNISHMENT AND CRIME RATE WHEN SOCIAL DISAPPROVAL OF THE OFFENSE IS CONTROLLED. IMPLICATIONS OF FINDINGS FOR PREVIOUS DETERRENCE RESEARCH ARE BRIEFLY DISCUSSED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (JAP)