public and crime: attitudes towards the criminal justice system

Question 1

what is the criminal justice system

Answer 1

governmental organisations and practices that serve to both control crime and maintain control on the population

includes punishment for violations of the law

Question 2

what are the priorities of the CJS

Answer 2

• reduce offending by using skills of public, private, and voluntary sectors
• reduce youth crime by putting education at the centre of youth justice
• build a maximum value for money prison system
• reduce cost of legal aid and ensure it helps cases that genuinely need it
• improve the way courts are run and put victim first

Question 3

why should the public be heard?

Answer 3

public voice and opinion are core principles of democracy

without public involvement, CJS would be unable to operate (reporting of crimes, witnesses, jury system)

Question 4

what does public opinion do?

Answer 4

• creates boundaries which community will accept
  -can be misinformed about CJS

Question 5

what can misinformation about CJS lead to?

Answer 5

media reports are often biased and selective, which can result in low confidence in the CJS and therefore reduce reports of crime and encourage criminals

Question 6

what is restorative justice

Answer 6

recognition of the community, rather than criminal justice agencies, as the prime site of crime control

crime defined as injury to victims and community peace

government should be responsible for preserving order, and community for establishing peace

Question 7

what is required for restorative justice to work

Answer 7

• public preference in less serious cases particularly for property/juvenile offenders
• confidence that serious offenders do not pose a threat, and that victim is satisfied with outcome

Question 8

what is the problem with public opinion?

Answer 8

public opinion is vital to CJS, however this opinion needs to be based on all the facts

e.g., opinion that CJS is too lenient may come from lack of knowledge and understanding of how CJS operates

Question 9

what are some common misconceptions about CJS

Answer 9

• belief that crime is increasing
• overestimations in the rates of violent crime
• lack of knowledge regarding sentencing
• underestimation of prison use for serious offenders

Question 10

where does knowledge about CJS come from

Answer 10

direct experiences:
- jury duty
- witness
- secondary victimisation

indirect experiences:
- vicarious victim of crime
- knowing others who have been victims
- common knowledge
- media

Question 11

what did Matthews et al find around jury duty (increased/decreased confidence)

Answer 11

increased confidence associated with:
- jury diversity
- adherence to due process
- process being considered to be fair

decreased confidence was associated with:
- poorly prepared cases
- poor quality evidence
- hearing of cases considered to be minor

Question 12

what did Angle and Whitehead find around witnesses?

Answer 12

• 75% witnesses reported being satisfied with their experience of the CJS, dissatisfaction related to feeling that they were taken for granted, and intimidation by the process or environment
• experience as a witness influences witness’ opinion of CJS

Question 13

secondary victimisation

Answer 13

actions of CJS can have effect of further victimising those who come to them as victims

fear of not being believed

process can be intimidating

only 5.3% of rape cases result in conviction