NCJ Number
128015
Journal
Penal Issues Research on Crime and Justice in France Issue: 1 Dated: (1990) Pages: 7-9
Date Published
1990
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This paper presents the findings of a quantitative survey of the French public's expectations with respect to criminal justice policy over a 12-year interval.
Abstract
A crime index procedure rated 33 questions on a scale of 1 to 10 regarding the seriousness of an offense. Highest on the seriousness list was assaults on physical integrity, followed by trafficking in heroin, industrial pollution, and disregard for job safety rules resulting in death at a worksite. Armed robbery, refusal to assist a person injured in a road accident, drunk driving, and hashish sale were ranked a close second. The results show that the population was divided in its expectations regarding property offenses, traffic offenses, and breaches of civil rights by the police, and violations of labor laws and tax evasion. The reason is ascribed to 6 main types of expectations based on 2 differing value systems and attitudes: defense of private property (77.7 percent) and humanistic concerns (22.3 percent) to protect the interest of the community. These findings indicate that an interaction has occurred between the two main values systems in France. 1 table