Taking Crime Seriously: Conservation Values and Legal Cynicism as Predictors of Public Perceptions of the Seriousness of Crime
File version
Accepted Manuscript (AM)
Author(s)
Karstedt, Susanne
Paoli, Letizia
Visschers, Jonas
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
Abstract
Public perceptions of the seriousness of crime have long been presented as an indicator of actual crime seriousness, which features prominently in contemporary criminal policy. However, doubts persist on the policy relevance of such perceptions, among others, because their predictors and the extent of consensus about them in our pluralistic societies are unclear. Against this background, we examine the extent to which conservation values, legal cynicism, and religiosity drive public crime seriousness perceptions and generate heterogeneity. A general population survey in Belgium eliciting 1,278 valid responses indicates a limited impact of these values, attitudes, and beliefs on crime seriousness perceptions, with exception of the “mala prohibita” considered. Of the three predictors, conservation values have the most consistent impact across different crimes. Moreover, our findings suggest that crime seriousness perceptions are still largely consensual, thus allaying one concern for their use for policy-making purposes.
Journal Title
International Criminal Justice Review
Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume
29
Issue
4
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
Adriaenssen, A; Karstedt, S; Paoli, L; Visschers, J, Taking Crime Seriously: Conservation Values and Legal Cynicism as Predictors of Public Perceptions of the Seriousness of Crime, International Criminal Justice Review, 2019, 29 (4), pp. 317-334. Copyright 2019 The Authors. Reprinted by permission of SAGE Publications.
Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject
Criminology
Social Sciences
Criminology & Penology
crime seriousness
perceptions
legal cynicism
Persistent link to this record
Citation
Adriaenssen, A; Karstedt, S; Paoli, L; Visschers, J, Taking Crime Seriously: Conservation Values and Legal Cynicism as Predictors of Public Perceptions of the Seriousness of Crime, International Criminal Justice Review, 2019, 29 (4), pp. 317-334