SEVERE SENTENCES - NO DETERRENT TO CRIME? (FROM CRIMINAL JUSTICE - SELECTED READINGS, 1978, BY JOHN BALDWIN AND A KEITH BOTTOMLEY - SEE NCJ-55224)

• NCJ Number: 55229
• Author(s): R BAXTER; C NUTTALL
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: Biblio Distribution Ctr
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: REPRINTED FROM NEW SOCIETY (JANUARY 2, 1975), P 11-13

Annotation

THE GENERAL DETERRENT EFFECT OF A SINGLE, SEVERE, WELL PUBLICIZED SENTENCE ON MUGGING RATES IN ENGLISH CITIES IS EXAMINED.

Abstract

DURING 1972, MUGGING WAS THE SOURCE OF CONSIDERABLE PUBLIC ANXIETY IN ENGLAND. IN MARCH 1973, A BIRMINGHAM COURT SENTENCED A 16-YEAR-OLD YOUTH TO 20 YEARS' DETENTION FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER AND ROBBERY, BUT THE OFFENSE WAS POPULARLY SEEN AS MUGGING. THE TRIAL JUDGE EMPHASIZED THAT HE WAS CONCERNED WITH THE FACTS OF THE SPECIFIC CASE, BUT THE SENTENCE WAS VIEWED BY MANY AS AN INTENDED DETERRENT AND WAS PUBLICIZED AS SUCH IN THE NEWSPAPERS AND ON TELEVISION. TO DETERMINE THE DETERRENT EFFECT OF THE SENTENCE, STATISTICS ON OFFENSES CATEGORIZED AS ROBBERY OR ASSAULT WITH INTENT TO ROB (THERE IS NO SPECIFIC OFFENSE CATEGORY FOR MUGGING) WERE ANALYZED FOR 1972 AND 1973 IN SIX LARGE URBAN AREAS OUTSIDE LONDON. IN NONE OF THE CITIES DID THE SENTENCE HAVE THE ANTICIPATED IMPACT ON THE NUMBER OF REPORTED ROBBERIES, NOT EVEN IN THE CITY WHERE THE PUBLICIZED SENTENCE WAS PASSED. THIS LACK OF ANY APPARENT GENERAL DETERRENT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE FINDINGS OF STUDIES CONDUCTED IN EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES. ONE POLICE OFFICIAL POINTED OUT THAT THE LOW RISK OF APPREHENSION WAS HAVING A LIMITING EFFECT ON DETERRENCE. THIS VIEW WAS SUPPORTED BY THE FINDING THAT THE MUGGING RATE BEGAN TO DECLINE IN LIVERPOOL AFTER POLICE MEASURES TO INCREASE APPREHENSION OF MUGGERS WERE INTRODUCED. A GRAPH IS INCLUDED. (LKM)