ROBBERS ARE USUALLY NERVOUS NOVICES BETWEEN 16 AND 25 YEARS OF AGE. BECAUSE OF THE BRIEFNESS AND INTENSITY OF THE HOLD-UP SITUATION, NO REGULAR PATTERNS ARE EVIDENT. SMALL MERCHANTS ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE BECAUSE OF THE LATE HOURS WHICH THEY MUST KEEP TO BE COMPETITIVE AND BECAUSE OF FAMILY INVOLVEMENT IN THE BUSINESS. DAMAGES FROM SUCH CRIMES INCLUDE LOSS OF MONEY, BODILY INJURIES, PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA, AND COSTS FOR ALARM SYSTEMS AS WELL AS OTHER SECURITY MEASURES. ACCORDING TO THE STUDY FINDINGS, VICTIMIZED MERCHANTS VIEW THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH THE COURT SYSTEM VERY NEGATIVELY, FEELING THAT THE CRIMINALS ARE TREATED BETTER THAN THEY ARE AND RESENTING THEIR LOSS OF TIME AND MONEY, THE OUT-OF-COURT MACHINATIONS, AND SYSTEM DELAYS. DESPITE GENERAL DISSATISFACTION WITH INEQUITIES OF JUSTICE, LITTLE HOPE IS EXPRESSED FOR REFORM. VICTIMS SUPPORT INCREASED PENALTIES, ALTHOUGH SANCTIONS ARE CONSIDERED REHABILITATIVE MEASURES RATHER THAN PUNISHMENT, AND CRIMES OF JUVENILES AND OFFENDERS BY CIRCUMSTANCE ARE REGARDED WITH TOLERANCE. THE ATTITUDE OF THE MERCHANTS IS ESPECIALLY AFFECTED BY THEIR EMPHASIS ON WORK DEMANDS, ON PROPERTY, ON THE NEED FOR RESTITUTION TO THE VICTIMS OF ROBBERIES, AND ON THE IMPORTANCE OF RESPECT FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS. THE EXTENT OF MERCHANTS' PESSIMISM IS DEPENDENT ON THE NUMBER OF TIMES THEY HAVE BEEN HELD UP AND THE DURATION OF THEIR CONTACT WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. --IN FRENCH. (KMD)