How serious is environmental crime? Comparing local perceptions of crime seriousness and preferences for interventions in Indonesia

• In Event: International criminal justice issues

Abstract

There is increasing international awareness of the grave financial and planetary harm caused by environmental crime. However, there are few studies that examine public perceptions of its seriousness. Such knowledge gaps have practical importance because public perceptions likely affect behavioral reactions of whether bystanders are more or less willing to intervene. Depending on perceptions of crime severity, publics may ignore, directly or indirectly intervene, or join in criminal behavior during a witnessed event. This research contributes new understanding to public perceptions of environmental crime seriousness, using semi-structured interviews (n=400) with visual aids depicting environmental and non-environmental crime scenarios with residents living in and around Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (BBSNP) in Sumatra, Indonesia. We report on perceptions of environmental crime seriousness, compare these to perceptions of traditional street crimes, and examine linkages between perceived seriousness and preferences for bystander intervention (e.g., ignore it or intervene directly or indirectly). Respondents rated illegal logging and poaching as moderately serious to serious with both among the top four in seriousness of those examined. We find that, generally, the more serious the environmental crime, the more likely respondents were to believe that calling the authorities, rather than ignoring it, was the best intervention.

Authors

• Jessica S. Kahler, University of Florida

• Jodi Lane, University of Florida

• Meredith L. Gore, Michigan State University