Criminal Justice System
Improving public attitudes to the criminal justice system
This document is published for archival/historical purposes. It will not be updated.
This research surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1022 people to assess levels of knowledge about crime, sentencing and the criminal justice system (CJS); attitudes to sentencing; and confidence in the CJS. Of these, 220 then participated in an experiment to test the impact of providing information. Each of these 220 either was shown a video, given a booklet, or attended a seminar. They were then re-interviewed to assess the impact that the information provided had had on their knowledge of the CJS.
Title: Improving public attitudes to the Criminal Justice System: The impact of information
Author: Becca Chapman, Catriona Mirrlees-Black and Claire Brawn
Series: Home Office Research Study 245
Number of pages: 66
Date published: July 2002
Background
Overall knowledge about the crime and the CJS amongst the general public is poor - particularly in reference to sentencing and sentencing trends
There is little variation in knowledge across the population, although working age men tend to be slightly more knowledgeable
All the formats tested significantly improved test scores
Sentencing
Crime reduction was the most frequently mentioned 'important aim' of sentencing
Opinions of the main aims of sentencing changed little after receiving information. There was a slight shift away from thinking of punishment as the main aim of sentencing, but not significantly large
There was a widespread belief in the effectiveness of prison at reducing crime
Fear of crime
A reduction in fear of victimisation was found after using each information format
Information had an effect on opinions about sentencing, people being less likely to think that sentencing was too lenient after receiving information
People with little belief in the CJS were likely to improve in confidence in t he CJS after receiving information
Conclusions
Providing simple factual information about crime and sentencing also had an impact on attitudes to and confidence in the CJS
The booklet was the most cost-effective format tested and reached the widest cross-section of people
Last update: Wednesday, August 27, 2008