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DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES AND PRACTICES - A COMPARATIVE STUDY AMONG ELDERLY

NCJ Number
61963
Journal
Justice System Journal Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: (FALL 1979) Pages: 97-106
Author(s)
R A SUNDEEN
Date Published
1979
Length
10 pages
Annotation
FINDINGS ARE REPORTED CONCERNING ANXIETY ABOUT VICTIMIZATION AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS CRIMINAL JUSTICE AMONG GROUPS OF ELDERLY PERSONS.
Abstract
ELDERLY PERSONS FROM FOUR COMMUNITIES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WERE INTERVIEWED TO TEST THE HYPOTHESIS THAT LOW-INCOME ELDERLY LIVING IN AREAS PERCEIVED AS CRIMINALLY DANGEROUS WOULD BE LESS SUPPORTIVE OF POLICE AND MORE PUNITIVE TOWARD OFFENDERS THAN WOULD MORE AFFLUENT ELDERLY LIVING IN AREAS PERCEIVED TO BE LESS THREATENING. FROM A PLANNED RETIREMENT COMMUNITY OUTSIDE LOS ANGELES, 50 PERSONS WERE RANDOMLY SELECTED AND 84 PERSONS WERE SELECTED ON AN AVAILABILITY SAMPLE BASIS AT 3 SENIOR CITIZEN CENTERS. ATTITUDES WERE MEASURED BY ASKING THE RESPONDENTS TO RATE THE LEVEL OF EFFECTIVENESS OF FOUR SPECIFIC AGENCIES, TO STATE THE PURPOSE OF PRISONS, AND TO PROVIDE THEIR PREFERRED LENGTH OF SENTENCE FOR SIX CRIMINAL OFFENSES. THE URBAN RESIDENTS HAD A MUCH HIGHER FEAR OF BEING VICTIMIZED THAN DID THE SUBURBAN GROUP. MOREOVER, THE FORMER GROUP TOOK MORE SECURITY PRECAUTIONS INCLUDING THE INSTALLATION OF LOCKS AND PURCHASE OF WEAPONS. THE SUBURBAN GROUP DID TAKE OUT A LARGER AMOUNT OF THEFT INSURANCE. FINDINGS ALSO INDICATED THAT THE URBAN GROUP TENDED TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE POLICE, PRISONS, AND PAROLE SYSTEM ON A LOWER SCALE THAN THE SUBURBAN GROUP. THOSE WITH HIGHER FEAR OF CRIME PREFERRED A GREATER DEGREE OF PUNITIVENESS IN PRISONS AND FAVORED GREATER SEVERITY IN PRISON SENTENCES. IT APPEARS THAT INDIRECT VICTIMIZATION CAN AFFECT ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS ABOUT CRIMINAL JUSTICE INSTITUTIONS. ALTHOUGH THE ELDERLY HAVE CHARACTERISTICS WHICH DISTINGUISH THEM FROM YOUNGER PERSONS, RESEARCH MUST CONSIDER ECONOMIC STATUS AND RESIDENCE IN EXPLAINING ATTITUDES AMONG THE ELDERLY. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)

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