Public Acceptance of Restitution As An Alternative to Imprisonment for Property Offenders - A Survey

• NCJ Number: 94184
• Author(s): B Gulaway
• Date Published: 1984
• Length: 88 pages
• Corporate Author: New Zealand Dept of Justice
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; New Zealand Dept of Justice; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: New Zealand
• Note: Study Series Number 12

Annotation

This study provides support for the view that the public will accept a reduction in the use of imprisonment for serious property offenders if there is a concomitant increase in requiring these offenders to restore their victims' losses.

Abstract

The study sample consisted of 2 random samples of 1,200 persons, each drawn from the New Zealand electoral roles. The control and experimental groups received descriptions of six incidents involving serious property crime, then indicated if imprisonment was appropriate. If they selected a penalty other than imprisonment, they chose one or more penalties from descriptive statements representing fine, probation, community service, and nonresidential periodic detention. The restitution or experimental group could include restitution as a noncustodial penalty. The control group recommended imprisonment more often than the experimental group. There were differences between thew two groups across most age groups, for both sexes, for those of European descent, and for those who had not been victimized in the previous year. Over 65 percent of the experimental group recommending noncustodial penalties selected restitution for each offender. Nine tables, 14 appendixes, and 25 references are included. (Author summary modified).