Criminal contemplation, national context, and deterrence

Using random samples of adults from three European countries rarely surveyed about crime-related issues, this study seeks to identify, with more extensive indicators than is typical, individuals who are likely to contemplate the commission of criminal acts. Then, it assesses the contextual universal...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Tittle, Charles R. 1939- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2011
In: Journal of quantitative criminology
Year: 2011, Volume: 27, Issue: 2, Pages: 225-249
Online Access: Volltext (doi)
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Keywords:
Greece
Ukraine
Russia
Perceived sanctions
Deterrence
Abschreckung
Sanktionen
Russland
Griechenland
Description
Summary:Using random samples of adults from three European countries rarely surveyed about crime-related issues, this study seeks to identify, with more extensive indicators than is typical, individuals who are likely to contemplate the commission of criminal acts. Then, it assesses the contextual universality of deterrence claims by estimating the deterrent effectiveness of perceived formal and informal sanctions for theft and violence among crime contemplators in Greece, Russia, and Ukraine. With criminal contemplation taken into account, our findings confirm the patterns established in past research. Whereas the threat of formal punishment shows little deterrent effect, perceptions of informal sanctions appear to influence projected crime. However, supportive findings hold only in Russia and Ukraine. Overall, it appears that the deterrent effectiveness of sanctions may be to some extent contingent on cultural or contextual characteristics.
ISSN:1573-7799
DOI:10.1007/s10940-010-9104-8