Support for Leniency in the Criminal Courts

This paper examines an attitudinally deviant group in this society:. persons who feel that our courts are too harsh in their treatment of offenders. Analyzing data from three national surveys, the study attempts to construct a profile of leniency advocates in order to assess the likelihood of their organized influence on sentencing policies.

Two profiles emerge from cross tabular analysis. The more prominent profile characterizes those who prefer leniencY as young, urban blacks the group whose members are most like/v to be criminally victimized and arrestedfor a crime. The less prominent profile portray s leniencY advocates as white middle/upper-middle class liberals. Regression analysis indicates that three variables are the primari' predictors of a desire for leniencY in the courts: race, criminal victimization and arrest. The data suggest that, at present, there is little likelihood ofja change in court sentencing policies as the result of organized pressure form leniency advocates.