Scaling of Deterrents of Social Sanctions of Crime and Delinquency

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze deterrent potentials of social sanctions-eight social sanctions including formal and informal sanctions-of crime and delinquency among youths. Subjects were second-grade junior high school boys and girls, second-grade senior high school boys and girls, and male and female college students.

The method of paired comparison was used. The subjects were given following instruction. “Suppose you have committed a serious crime and you will probably get following sanctions. Which is more painful for you?” Scale values were calculated by the method of composite standard. Scale values of each sanctions are shown in Fig. 1.

The main results are as follows:

1) In case of boys; “Being put into reform and training school or prison” is the most important deterrent in all these groups. “Sanction effecting interpersonal relationship with family” and “Difficulties in entrance into school of higher grade or getting desired employment” have also important deterrent effects.

“Sanction effecting interpersonal relationship with family” is especially important in junior high school boys, and “Difficulities in .....” takes important deterrent role in older age groups.

2) In case of girls; The ranking of eight sanctions is, broadly speaking, similar to that of boys. “Sanction concerning interpersonal relationship with classmates” is, however, more important in girls than in boys. On the contrary, “Difficulties in .....” is not so important in girls as in boys.