Home / Publications / NCJRS Abstract

PUBLICATIONS

Stay Informed
Register with NCJRS to receive NCJRS's biweekly e-newsletter JUSTINFO and additional periodic emails from NCJRS and the NCJRS federal sponsors that highlight the latest research published or sponsored by the Office of Justice Programs.

NCJRS Abstract

The document referenced below is part of the NCJRS Virtual Library collection. To conduct further searches of the collection, visit the Virtual Library. See the Obtain Documents page for direction on how to access resources online, via mail, through interlibrary loans, or in a local library.

NCJ Number:	114854

Title:	Public Opinion and Criminal Justice Policy Formulation

Journal:	Criminal Justice Policy Review Volume:2 Issue:2 Dated:(June 1987) Pages:118-132

Author(s):	B Johnson; C R Huff

Date Published:	1987

Page Count:	15

Type:	Report (Study/Research)

Format:	Article

Language:	English

Country:	United States of America

Annotation:	This article examines studies on the use of public opinion in the formulation of criminal justice policy by State government agencies.

Abstract:	Although democratic political ideology suggests that government must be responsive to the people, the complexities of modern society complicate the determination of how best to assess and use public opinion in the policy process. This article addresses this issue by examining the results of a study that generated four databases: a national survey of 147 State government agencies; a random sample of 805 citizens located in a large, representative State; a survey of 31 interest groups; and a survey of 133 State legislators. The study demonstrates that although legislators and interest group representatives, in the aggregate, tend to hold opinions similar to those of the general public, their assessments of public opinion are often inaccurate. Government agency representatives who base their perceptions of public opinion on communication with elites may be receiving a distorted picture of public opinion. The public opinion poll, which has significant advantages, is an underused tool in State criminal justice policymaking. Such surveys can elicit unbiased and representative (though cross-sectional) sampling of opinion. 7 tables, 9 notes, 21-item bibliography. (Author abstract modified)

Main Term(s):	Surveys

Index Term(s):	Criminal justice system policy; Public Attitudes/Opinion



	To cite this abstract, use the following link: http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/publications/abstract.aspx?ID=114854

*A link to the full-text document is provided whenever possible. For documents not available online, a link to the publisher's website is provided. Tell us how you use the NCJRS Library and Abstracts Database - send us your feedback.

PUBLICATIONS

NCJRS Abstract

Find in a Library