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Restitution or Prison: Attitudes of the General Population and Justice System

NCJ Number
141515
Author(s)
K Sessar
Date Published
1992
Length
287 pages
Annotation
This 1984 research project examines restitution as an alternative to punishment using two surveys. Each survey was given to members of the general public and members of the criminal justice system.
Abstract
The first survey questioned fear of crime, personal situation and needs after victimization, and the extent to which restitution should replace punishment. The follow-up survey reviewed attitudes on the justice system, in general. Respondents for the public included the general public (N=4,400), which included victims, and first and eighth semester law students (N=600); judges and prosecutors (N=563) were surveyed for the criminal justice system. Each group was randomly selected and mailed a survey questionnaire. Results of the first survey indicated that the characteristic of the crime rather than the characteristic of the survey respondent determined the respondent attitude. The follow-up survey revealed that, for crimes against the person, there are general conflict resolution patterns accepted by the general public in which restitution has a higher priority than punishment. The project concluded that despite opposing viewpoints on restitution by the general public and the criminal justice system members, the general public accepts the punishment action as the only way to restore and maintain social peace and to alleviate its own current feeling of powerlessness and helplessness under the circumstances. Statistical tables, charts, reference list, index, and survey questionnaire are included