Poster #44 - Seeing What You Know: How Information Sources Shape Adults' Perceptions of Juvenile Crime Trends

• In Event: Poster Session I (posters 1 - 79)

Abstract

Existing research on juvenile crime largely examines public support for rehabilitative or punitive system approaches, however, less is known about how individuals obtain their knowledge of juvenile crime and how these sources inform their perceptions. Understanding what drives those perceptions is critical as public perception shapes the long-term sustainability of criminal and juvenile justice reform. Using thematic analysis of data collected from an online survey, this study examines how adults in North Carolina perceive changes in juvenile crime over the past 10 years and identifies the sources informing those perceptions. Four themes were developed from the responses of 389 adults: (1) "I have personal experience": direct exposure, (2) "Based on what I read in the news": indirect exposure, (3) "It seems to me": general information or belief, (4) "I haven't heard": absence of exposure. Perceptions of the juvenile crime rate varied based on the source of information participants relied upon. These findings highlight the difficulty of reaching the public with accurate information and underscore the importance of improving public understanding of juvenile crime, particularly as inaccurate perceptions can undermine support for evidence-based reform efforts.

Authors

• Sara Bryson, University of Tampa

• Reeve Kennedy, East Carolina University