Citation

Muftić LR, Maljevic A, Mandic L, Buljubasic M. Crim. Justice Stud. Crit. J. Crime Law Soc. 2015; 28(3): 297-313.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/1478601X.2015.1030076

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) became an independent nation state in 1992 and abolished the death penalty six years later. Little is known about how Bosnians view the death penalty. This study addresses this gap in the literature. Utilizing self-reported survey data collected from 440 university students enrolled at the University of Sarajevo in 2009, we assess the degree of support for the death penalty and what factors predict this support among university students in BiH. Drawing from the broader punitivity literature, the following correlates are considered: individual characteristics (e.g. age and sex), individual experiences (e.g. fear of crime and prior victimization) and philosophical attitudes pertaining to punishment (e.g. deterrence, retribution, modernity and indifference). Among the students surveyed, roughly half (52.7%) were in support of the death penalty.

RESULTS from a series of multivariate statistical analyses reveals that only philosophical attitudes predict death penalty support after controlling for important individual characteristics and experiences. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Language: en