Abstract
Deterrence lies at the heart of the criminal justice system and policy. There is a lack of information on citizen’s perceptions
regarding a critical element of the deterrence process as it manifests through the communication of sanction threats. This
study uses data from over 400 adults to examine their knowledge regarding the probability of detection and the average punishments
for DUI, and also assesses the contribution of demographic and theoretical variables in predicting perceptions of detection
probabilities and punishment estimates. Results show that persons over-estimate the likelihood of detection and provide higher
estimates for average sentence lengths, but very few variables predict deterrence perceptions. An investigation of the resetting
effect shows that persons tend to lower the estimated likelihood of punishment after experiencing a punishment. Deterrence
may work better if researchers and policy officials understand what influences these perceptions and how they may be modified.
regarding a critical element of the deterrence process as it manifests through the communication of sanction threats. This
study uses data from over 400 adults to examine their knowledge regarding the probability of detection and the average punishments
for DUI, and also assesses the contribution of demographic and theoretical variables in predicting perceptions of detection
probabilities and punishment estimates. Results show that persons over-estimate the likelihood of detection and provide higher
estimates for average sentence lengths, but very few variables predict deterrence perceptions. An investigation of the resetting
effect shows that persons tend to lower the estimated likelihood of punishment after experiencing a punishment. Deterrence
may work better if researchers and policy officials understand what influences these perceptions and how they may be modified.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-17
- DOI 10.1007/s12103-011-9145-z
- Authors
- Alex R. Piquero, Program in Criminology, EPPS, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, USA
- Nicole Leeper Piquero, Program in Criminology, EPPS, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, USA
- Marc Gertz, College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Florida State University, 634 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32606, USA
- Jake Bratton, College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Florida State University, 634 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32606, USA
- Thomas A. Loughran, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Maryland, 2220 LeFrak Hall, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Journal American Journal of Criminal Justice
- Online ISSN 1936-1351
- Print ISSN 1066-2316