NCJ Number
29910
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 62 Issue: 11 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1975) Pages: 38-39
Date Published
1975
Length
2 pages
Annotation
REPORT ON A STUDY WHICH EXAMINED DIFFERENCES IN THE PERCEPTIONS HELD BY THESE THREE GROUPS ABOUT VICTIMLESS CRIMES AND ATTITUDES TOWARD THE ENFORCEMENT OF SUCH VIOLATIONS BY ARREST.
Abstract
THE RESPONDENTS IN EACH GROUP WERE ASKED TO EXAMINE A LIST OF 12 RANDOMLY ORDERED CRIMES AND TO PLACE A CHECK MARK OPPOSITE THOSE TO WHICH THEY BELIEVED THE TERM 'VICTIMLESS CRIME' APPLIED. THE CRIMES LISTED WERE NARCOTICS VIOLATIONS, SALE OF MARIJUANA USE, USE OF MARIJUANA, AUTO THEFT, CHILD ABUSE, PROSTITUTION, FORGERY, PORNOGRAPHY, GAMBLING, HOMOSEXUALITY, AND SHOPLIFTING. ALL THREE GROUPS OF RESPONDENTS FELT THAT THE FIVE VICTIM CRIMES IN THE LIST WERE VICTIM CRIMES, AND ALSO AGREED THAT NARCOTICS VIOLATIONS AND THE SALE OF MARIJUANA HAD VICTIMS. THE VAST MAJORITY OF WRITERS AND TEACHERS PERCEIVED THE FOLLOWING CRIMES AS BEING VICTIMLESS: MARIJUANA USE, HOMOSEXUALITY, PROSTITUTION, PORNOGRAPHY, AND GAMBLING. A SLIGHT MAJORITY OF POLICE OFFICERS VIEWED THE FOLLOWING CRIMES AS VICTIMLESS: PROSTITUTION, PORNOGRAPHY, AND GAMBLING. THE MAJORITY OF WRITERS, TEACHERS, AND POLICE OFFICERS ALL AGREED THAT NARCOTICS VIOLATIONS AND THE SALE OF MARIJUANA SHOULD BE ENFORCED BY ARREST. WRITERS AND TEACHERS, HOWEVER, DISAGREED WITH ARREST FOR MARIJUANA USE, HOMOSEXUALITY, PROSTITUTION, PORNOGRAPHY, AND GAMBLING. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)