NCJ Number
53285
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
DATA FROM A 10-CITY SURVEY OF CITIZEN ATTITUDES TOWARD LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARE EXAMINED IN A STUDY OF PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF JUDICIAL FAIRNESS.
Abstract
THE DATA WERE GATHERED IN APPROXIMATELY 4,300 INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED IN ALBUQUERQUE, N. MX.; ATLANTA, GA.; BALTIMORE, MD.; BOSTON, MASS.; DENVER, COLO.; KANSAS CITY, KANS.; KANSAS CITY, MO.; MILWAUKEE, WIS.; NASHVILLE, TENN.; AND SAN DIEGO, CALIF. RESPONDENTS WERE ASKED WHETHER THEY THOUGHT THE COURTS ARE FAIR. THOSE WHO PERCEIVED UNFAIRNESS WERE ASKED TO WHOM AND IN WHAT WAYS THE COURTS ARE UNFAIR. WELL OVER ONE-THIRD OF THE SAMPLE BELIEVED THAT COURTS ARE UNFAIR. OF THOSE WHO THOUGHT THAT COURTS ARE UNFAIR, OVER ONE-HALF BELIEVED THAT THE COURTS TREAT EVERYONE UNFAIRLY. TO A CONSIDERABLE EXTENT, THE PERCEPTION OF UNFAIRNESS REFLECTS A CONCERN WITH COURT PROCEDURES AND A BELIEF THAT THE COURTS ARE TOO HARSH OR TOO LENIENT IN THEIR TREATMENT OF CERTAIN SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY. ATTITUDES TOWARD COURT FAIRNESS DO NOT SEEM TO BE GROUP SPECIFIC. VARIABLES OF RACE, SEX, AGE, SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS, AND VICTIMIZATION BACKGROUND HAVE VERY LITTLE CORRELATION WITH ATTITUDES TOWARD THE COURTS. PUBLIC CONCERN OVER THE FAIRNESS OF THE COURTS MAY REFLECT A BROADER SENSE THAT GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONS ARE NOT PERFORMING AS THEY SHOULD. IMPOSITION OF PIECEMEAL REFORMS MAY NOT SUFFICE TO ENHANCE SUBSTANTIALLY PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF THE COURTS. SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)