NCJ Number
181057
Journal
Public Opinion Quarterly Volume: 62 Issue: 3 Dated: Fall 1998 Pages: 405-426
Editor(s)
Vincent Price
Date Published
1998
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This article summarizes trends in public opinions of crime, the police, and civil liberties between 1980 and 1997.
Abstract
Although the violent crime rate and fear of crime have remained essentially stable since the early 1970's, recent years have seen rising public support for the punishment of criminals. Specifically, support for capital punishment for convicted murderers has grown since the late 1960's, and State responses to crime such as three-strikes laws and community notification regarding sex offenders have become increasingly common. The get-tough approaches to criminals have resulted in a rising prison population in the United States. Whereas in 1990 there were 458 inmates per 100,000 citizens, by 1996 that figure reached 645. Beyond being merely supportive of harsher punishments, Americans have heightened their approval of limited gun control measures and have elevated their esteem of police performance. Not all sectors of society have similar views on crime control and civil liberties. Detailed survey data are appended on government responses to crime, public attitudes toward police and courts, and tradeoffs between crime prevention and civil liberties. 20 references and 5 footnotes