Exploring Sources of Punitiveness Among German Citizens
Author(s)
Cochran, Joshua C
Piquero, Alex R
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2011
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Prior research examining punitive attitudes has typically focused on the United States and citizens' support for the death penalty or American "gettough" criminal policies. Yet, little is known as to how punitive attitudes and their sources vary internationally. Using Germany as a case study, this article expands the scope of punitiveness research by examining how factors typically examined in American studies, such as cynicism, institutional trust, law and order culture, and antiminority attitudes, relate to citizen beliefs about punishment in a different cultural context. Findings suggest that distrust of the ...
View more >Prior research examining punitive attitudes has typically focused on the United States and citizens' support for the death penalty or American "gettough" criminal policies. Yet, little is known as to how punitive attitudes and their sources vary internationally. Using Germany as a case study, this article expands the scope of punitiveness research by examining how factors typically examined in American studies, such as cynicism, institutional trust, law and order culture, and antiminority attitudes, relate to citizen beliefs about punishment in a different cultural context. Findings suggest that distrust of the judicial system, political prioritization of law and order, and antiminority attitudes predict citizens' support for severe punishment as an effective crime-reduction technique. Implications and directions for future research are highlighted.
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View more >Prior research examining punitive attitudes has typically focused on the United States and citizens' support for the death penalty or American "gettough" criminal policies. Yet, little is known as to how punitive attitudes and their sources vary internationally. Using Germany as a case study, this article expands the scope of punitiveness research by examining how factors typically examined in American studies, such as cynicism, institutional trust, law and order culture, and antiminority attitudes, relate to citizen beliefs about punishment in a different cultural context. Findings suggest that distrust of the judicial system, political prioritization of law and order, and antiminority attitudes predict citizens' support for severe punishment as an effective crime-reduction technique. Implications and directions for future research are highlighted.
View less >
Journal Title
Crime & Delinquency
Volume
57
Issue
4
Subject
Causes and Prevention of Crime
Criminology
Law