The Influence of Crime and Deterrence Perceptions on Criminal Activity

Past research has shown that perceptions, either negative or positive, of the legal system will influence an individual's crime involvement. My hypothesis is that individuals who have had a negative experience with the legal system, directly or indirectly, will have negative views of the sanctions and punishment of offenders. Participants taking the survey are asked to read one of four vignettes depicting popular crimes. These vignettes vary on severity of offense (minor vs. felony) and type of crime (theft vs. sex offense). A series of questions were asked to inquire if the punishment is acceptable for the crime, or if a punishment of lesser or more severe intensity would be acceptable. The participants also rate whether the crime would be more acceptable if the offender was the opposite sex or a juvenile. Participants then answered a group of questions to evaluate if they would commit the same crime if they were punished in the same manner. A group of questions regarding arrests and incarceration of peers, relatives and the participants follows. Finally, a series of demographic questions are presented at the end of the survey.