Influence of Offender and Crime Characteristics on Public Opinion of Case Outcomes in Criminal Justice Decision-Making

• In Event: Public Preferences for Punishment and Perceptions of Defendants and Record-Holders

Abstract

Research indicates both legal and extra-legal factors influence legal decision-making. However, examining how these factors inform public perceptions of appropriate case outcomes is also critical, given the role of public opinion in shaping criminal justice (CJ) policy and system legitimacy. This 2 (offender sex) x 2 (crime type) x 3 (risk level) experimental vignette study examines how offender and crime characteristics influence public opinion on appropriate case outcomes at different stages of the CJ system using a national sample of the general public (n= 2,739). Results indicate decreased support for granting bail to violent (OR= .744), medium- (OR= .821), and high-risk (OR= .755) offenders compared to property and low-risk offenders, respectively. There was increased support for males (OR= 1.299) and medium-risk (OR= 1.227) offenders serving prison time compared to female and low-risk offenders, respectively. There was reduced support for granting parole for high-risk (OR= .794) compared to low-risk offenders. Preliminary findings reveal the public's perception of appropriate CJ decision-making at multiple points and align with prior research indicating support for harsher bail decisions for violent offenders, sentence leniency for female offenders, and the influential role of risk level assessments across CJ stages. Implications and future directions will be discussed.

Authors

• Jasmine Huerta, California State University, Los Angeles

• Shichun Ling, California State University, Los Angeles

• Melissa Kowalski, Wisconsin Department of Corrections

• Xiaohan Mei, California State University, Los Angeles