Victims’ and Offenders’ Views About Crime and Justice

Abstract

Believing that it is important to examine the views of those directly involved with the criminal justice system, we surveyed both victims (n = 238) and offenders (n = 143) about their perceptions of what constitutes fair procedures (i.e., procedural justice) and outcomes (i.e., distributive justice). We also examined their views about the purposes of punishment, as this may affect the criminal justice system’s ability to function as an institution of social control. Both victims and offenders perceived the procedures and outcomes in their cases as fair and supported each of the four purposes of punishment. Individuals’ perceptions of justice related to their views about the purposes of punishment, but the nature of this relationship depended on both their status as a victim or offender and their gender.

Notes

¹ The current study uses the same data as Ruback et al. (2008).

² The current study uses the same data as Ruback et al. (2006).

³ By offenders, we mean individuals who have been convicted of a crime. The views of individuals who are formally involved in the criminal justice system likely differ from those of individuals whose crimes are not prosecuted or do not come to the attention of the criminal justice system.

⁴ In contrast to Shaffer and Ruback (2002), who examined violent victims/offenders, the victims in our study were primarily property victims.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Stacy H. Haynes

Stacy H. Haynes is Assistant Professor of Sociology at Mississippi State University. Her research focuses on issues related to victimization, sentencing, juvenile justice, and criminal justice policy. Her recent publications have appeared in Crime & Delinquency, Criminology & Public Policy, Journal of Adolescent Health, and Violence and Victims.

Alison C. Cares

Alison C. Cares is Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminology at Assumption College in Worcester, MA. Her research focuses on victimization, particularly sexual violence and intimate partner violence, and program and policy evaluation. She recently was co-principal investigator on a CDC-funded evaluation of sexual assault prevention efforts on two college campuses and on a U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime funded project to integrate crime victims’ issues into university and college curricula. Her recent work appears in Criminology & Public Policy, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Violence Against Women, and Psychology of Violence.