Attitudes to Crime and Criminal Justice

• In Event: Student Attitudes, Interests, and Criminal Justice Curricula

Abstract

Crime and punishment has been one of the highest profile issues in American politics and elsewhere for many years. Successive administrations have attempted to re-assure the voting public of their commitment to reducing crime, while the mass media have rarely missed an opportunity to remind their readers of the prevalence of “one man crime waves” and “persistent offenders”. Despite this rhetoric, little research has been conducted in the U.S. to assess attitudes to crime and criminal justice amongst members of the general public. However, some research into this area has been reported in the notable Crime Survey for England and Wales (previously called the British Crime Survey) which is now being conducted annually from 2001. In order to fill some of the gaps, this paper will give a snapshot picture of the current views of law enforcement and criminal justice students in two American universities to crime and criminal justice.

Authors

• Bonny Mhlanga, Western Illinois University

• Jennifer Allen, University of New Georgia