Citation

Mears DP. Crim. Justice Behav. 2001; 28(2): 206-226.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0093854801028002004

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Despite recent "get tough" trends in juvenile justice, relatively little is known about support for sanctioning youths in adult courts. In response, this study examines several neglected explanatory factors, including links between marital status, political orientation, and philosophy of punishment. Analysis of data from the 1995 National Opinion Survey of Crime and Justice suggests that marital status and philosophy of punishment are consistently associated with support for adult sanctioning of youths when the offense involves any of three categories of offenses (selling illegal drugs, committing property crime, or committing violent crime). It also suggests that marital status conditions the effect of philosophy of punishment, an effect itself conditioned by political orientation when the offense involves selling illegal drugs. Research and policy implications are discussed.

Language: en