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COGNITIVE ASPECTS OF THE OLDER ADULT'S ATTITUDES TOWARD THE LEGAL SYSTEM

NCJ Number
61901
Author(s)
M A Y RIFAI
Date Published
1976
Length
20 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY DISCUSSES THE ATTITUDES OF 500 PORTLAND, OREG. RESIDENTS OVER AGE 60 TOWARD THE AMERICAN LEGAL SYSTEM.
Abstract
THE SUBJECTS WERE RANDOMLY SELECTED OUT OF A POPULATION OF 107,000; ONLY 4 PERCENT OF THEM WERE NONWHITE. THROUGH INTERVIEWS, THE STUDY SOUGHT ANSWERS TO FOUR QUESTIONS CONCERNING OLDER AMERICANS LACK OF CONTACT WITH THE LEGAL SYSTEM, THEIR LACK OF INFORMATION ON THEIR RIGHTS, THEIR DISSATISFACTION WITH OR SUSPICION OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM, AND CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR RIGHTS AND THEIR ATTITUDES. RESULTS REVEALED THAT 76 PERCENT OF MEN AND 82 PERCENT OF WOMEN HAD USED A LAWYER, 95 PERCENT WOULD DO SO, AND OVER FOUR-FIFTHS KNEW ABOUT LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. ABOUT TWO-FIFTHS HAD BEEN TO COURT AS A PARTY TO A CASE OR JURY MEMBER. HOWEVER, A LEGAL KNOWLEDGE TEST INDICATED A SERIOUS LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAW AND RIGHTS. AN ATTITUDE SCALE REVEALED THAT THE SUBJECTS WERE DISSATISFIED AND IRRITATED WITH THE COURTS, MANY ASSERTING THAT CRIMINALS WERE TREATED LENIENTLY, COURTS FAVOR THE RICH, OR LAWYERS CANNOT BE TRUSTED. BUT SUBJECTS' LEGAL KNOWLEDGE SCORES DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIP WITH ATTITUDES, AND POOR ATTITUDES ABOUT COURTS DO NOT SEEM TO ARISE OUT OF SPECIFIC LEGAL MISUNDERSTANDINGS. THE MEDIA SEEMS TO ENHANCE POOR ATTITUDES. FINALLY, LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAW IS DEEMED DANGEROUS FOR THE ELDERLY, AS PERSONS IGNORANT OF THE LAW ARE LIKELY TO SUFFER FOR THEIR IGNORANCE. TABLES INCLUDE PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STUDY SUBJECTS AND INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. (PAP)