First Time Offenders

Paper Summary:

This paper relates that the research polled 320 (N=320) random individuals through a survey that gathered personal data and a scoring system of four dependent variables: (1) How serious is the offense?, (2) How much do you believe the offender deserved the penalty?,
(3) How pleased are you with the penalty the offender received? and (4)
Based on the crime, how fair do you believe the penalty is? The author points out that, based on this research, especially among persons who have been victims of crimes, a criminal history should play a major role in the sentencing process and that first time offenders should be treated differently than repeat and violent offenders. The paper relates that an assumption can be made that, even though offenders with no prior record merit less serious punishment, they also may be subject to a prejudicial jury in some instances. Many statistical tables.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Methods and Materials
Results Section
DV 1: Tests of Between- Subjects Effects - Dependent Variable: How Serious this Offense?
DV 2: Tests of Between- Subjects Effects - Dependent Variable: Did the Offender Deserve the Penalty?
DV 3: Tests of Between- Subjects Effects - Dependent Variable: How Pleased are You with this Penalty?
DV 4: Tests of Between- Subjects Effects - Dependent Variable: How Fair is the Penalty?
Discussion Section
Appendix: Statistical Tables

From the Paper:

"Over the last few decades, local, state and federal prisons throughout the United States have inmate populations that are steadily rising may even be as high as two million strong. This has added a great strain on society and of course the entire incarceration system. The media during this period of increased prison populations have proclaimed that the overall national crime rates have ironically fallen to new lows. This may imply that the public may have less to fear in regard to crime and victimization, but still policymakers and society should address sentencing policies so as to ensure that we are best utilizing punishment policies that ensure the safety of the masses and provides a reasonable rehabilitative opportunity for offenders. "Public opinion plays an important role in the sentencing process in Canada and elsewhere.""

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