Toward a Theory of Criminal Deterrence

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the development of an integrated, axiomatic theory of criminal deterrence. The existing theoretical and empirical literature is reviewed in order to identify those factors believed to be associated with the deterrence of criminal behavior. Based on a sample of 174 undergraduate students at a small, private university, this study evaluates the additive and interaction effects of several independent variables, the degree of moral commitment to the legal norm, the perceived threat (certainty and severity) of punishment, and patterns of differential association on self-reported criminality. Employing a complex correlational analysis and a multivariate analysis of variance, the existence and magnitude of the relationships among the variables studied were found to be contingent on the level of analysis (individual versus offense), the level of perceived certainty of punishment, the level of conformity or commitment to the legal norm, the type of offense (e.g., offenses against the person) and sex role. (Abstract Adapted from Source: American Sociological Review, 1976. Copyright © 1976 by the American Sociological Association) Deterrence Offender Punishment Crime Prevention Crime Perceptions Adult Perceptions Legal Sanctions College Student Research 07-02