AT THE MACRO LEVEL, THE ANALYSIS ENCOMPASSES THE VARIABLES OF AGE, SEX, AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. AT THE MICRO LEVEL, VARIABLES INCLUDE RACE, SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, SEX, AGE, AND OWNERSHIP OF STOCK. THE ANALYSIS REVEALS A STRONG RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COLLECTIVE SENTIMENT WITH REGARD TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF SPECIFIC FEDERAL CRIMES AND THE ACTUAL PRESCRIPTIONS OF FEDERAL STATUTES CONCERNING THESE CRIMES. ALTHOUGH TOTAL SAMPLE RESULTS SUPPORT THE CONCEPT OF A CONSENSUS OF FEELINGS TOWARD CRIME AND PUNISHMENT IN SOCIETY, DISAGGREGATION INTO GROUP-LEVEL AND INDIVIDUAL-LEVEL ANALYSES INDICATES THAT CERTAIN VARIABLES DIFFERENTIATE PERSONS WITH PUNITIVE TENDENCIES FROM THOSE WITH LENIENT TENDENCIES. FOR EXAMPLE, THE HIGHER SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS GROUP WAS MORE LENIENT THAN THE LOWER ONE. WOMEN TENDED TO BE MORE PUNITIVE THAN MEN. RESPONDENTS FROM LARGER CITIES WERE LESS PUNITIVE THAN THOSE FROM SMALLER CITIES. THE IMPLICATIONS OF THESE AND OTHER FINDINGS ARE DISCUSSED. SUPPORTING DATA AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)