PERCEPTION OF 'PAYOFF' AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY (FROM PERCEPTION IN CRIMINOLOGY, 1975 BY RICHARD L HENSHEL AND ROBERT A SILVERMAN - SEE NCJ-32885)

• NCJ Number: 35426
• Author(s): G F JENSEN
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 17 pages
• Corporate Author: Columbia University Press
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS STUDY EXAMINED THE ARGUMENT THAT BELIEFS CONCERNING APPREHENSION AND PUNISHMENT FOR RULE-BREAKING AFFECT NOT ONLY BEHAVIOR BUT RESPECT FOR THE LAW AND ITS AGENTS AS WELL.

Abstract

INVESTIGATED ARE THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE BELIEF THAT LAWBREAKERS ARE CAUGHT AND PUNISHED AND DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR, RESPECT FOR THE LAW, RESPECT FOR THE POLICE, AND AGE. THE STUDY SAMPLE CONSISTED OF 1588 WHITE BOYS IN GRADES SEVEN THROUGH TWELVE. AN ANALYSIS OF QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES SUPPORTED THE VIEW THAT THE BELIEF THAT PERSONS WHO BREAK THE LAW ARE ALMOST ALWAYS CAUGHT AND PUNISHED REPRESENTS A CERTAIN NAIVETE WHICH DECREASES WITH AGE. RESPECT FOR THE LAW WAS FOUND TO BE A GENERAL VALUE ORIENTATION WHOSE VALIDITY IS NOT AS READILY INFLUENCED BY BELIEFS OR PERCEPTIONS OF THE REALITIES OF ENFORCEMENT AS ARE ATTITUDES TOWARDS THOSE ENFORCING THE LAW. BELIEF IN THE LIKELIHOOD OF APPREHENSION AND PUNISHMENT WAS SHOWN TO BE RELATED TO BOTH SELF-REPORTED AND OFFICIAL DELINQUENCY, BUT MORE STRONGLY TO THE FORMER. IN ADDITION, STUDY FINDINGS SUPPORT THE ARGUMENT THAT THE BELIEF THAT LAWBREAKERS ARE CAUGHT AND PUNISHED HAVE A DETERRENT EFFECT ON 'DRIFTERS' OR THOSE WITH RELATIVELY FEW TIES TO THE CONVENTIONAL SYSTEM. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS PROVIDED.