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Racial Differences in Attitudes Toward Crime Control

NCJ Number
120827
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 17 Issue: 5 Dated: (1989) Pages: 361-375
Author(s)
P E Secret; J B Johnson
Date Published
1989
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Utilizing National Opinion Research Center (NORC) data from 1980 through 1986, this research examined the connection between race and attitudes toward crime.
Abstract
Using simple cross tabulation, the authors looked for racial differences in attitudes toward court harshness, use of wiretaps, support of gun control, and government spending to control crime and drug abuse. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to discover the extent that race, rather than socioeconomic, sociological, political, or demographic variables, explains differences between the attitudes of blacks and whites toward crime. Differences in reported guns ownership were also researched. The authors found some convergence between attitudes of blacks and whites toward crime since 1980. Bivariate analysis found statistically significant differences between the attitudes of blacks and whites for all dependent variables, but in the multivariate analysis race was a significant factor only on attitudes toward court harshness and use of wiretaps once other factors were controlled. The authors discuss some theoretical and policy implications of their findings. 5 tables, 16 notes, 36 references. (Author abstract)