NCJ Number
168539
Date Published
1995
Length
15 pages
Annotation
An exploratory study of Hispano Americans in Texas focused on their attitudes toward crime and the criminal justice system, with emphasis on the cultural factors that influenced attitudes and behaviors and the differences between Hispano Americans and other population groups.
Abstract
Data were collected by means of a questionnaire mailed to a random probability sample of 500 persons with Spanish surnames, taken from the Texas Department of Public Safety file on persons holding current driver's licenses and official identification cards in Texas. Usable responses came from 312 individuals. The research tested 11 hypotheses on attitudes and behaviors related to the criminal justice systems. Results revealed that Hispanics in Texas feel less safe concerning crime than does the general population and that they do not believe that the police can reduce the incidence of crime. In addition, Hispano Americans feel that they have inadequate police protection and give generally lower evaluations of the police than does the general population. Nevertheless, Hispano Americans believe that the criminal courts are generally fair and just. Finally, Hispano Americans have a strong punitive rather than rehabilitative attitude toward corrections. Tables, notes, and 23 references (Author abstract modified)