Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, 1983 - Bureau of Justice ...

Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, 19113Table 2:.50 Attitudes toword the relationship between television violence and rising crime in thecountry, by demographic characteristics, United States, 1977 and 1982NJTE: For a discussion of public opinion survey sompling procedures, see Appendix 7.Question: "There has been a good deal of discus~ion lately about television programs that showviolence--that is, gunplay, fistfights and the like. Do you think there is a relationship between violenceon television and the rising crime rate in the United States, or not?"(Percent)1211 1982There is a There Is not a I'b There is a There Is not a I'b[elali!;~nshi!;! relationshi!;! o!;!inion relationshiQ relatlonshiQ oQinionI'btional 7U ~s 4 66 30 4Sex:Male 66 30 4 59 37 4Female 73 22 5 72 24 4Race:White 71 25 4 67 29 4I'bnwhite 62 31 7 56 38 6Education:College 73 23 4 66 30 ,I,High school 69 28 3 64 33 :'1Grade school 69 21 10 71 22 7Occupation:?rofessional and business 73 22 5 66 32 2Clerical and sales 65 34 I 70 28 2Manual workers 67 30 3 62 34 4I'bnlabor force 73 21 6 74 20 6Income:1",000 o,dN\ N\ N\ 62 36 20",'20,000 to '£4,999 N\ N\ N\ 65 33 215,000 to ~19,999 71 26 3 60 35 510,000 to '$14,999 64 32 4 68 28 4$5,000 to ~9,999 N\ N\ N\ 74 20 6Under $5,('.00 N\ N\ N\ 72 23 5Age:Total under 30 years 66 31 3 63 35 218 to 24 years 63 34 3 62 J6 l25 tl,) 29 years 70 27 3 64 ~3 330 tc 49 years 67 28 5 61 36 350 years and older 75 19 6 72 22 650 to 64 years N\ N\ N\ 68 28 465 years and older N\ N\ N\ 76 16 8City size:1,000,000 and over 72 23 5 62 33 5500,OUO to 999,999 51l 37 5 67 29 450,000 to 499,999 70 25 5 63 33 42,500 to 49,999 71 25 4 72 25 3Under 2,500, rural 72 24 4 67 30 3Region:East 73 22 5 65 31 4Midwest 68 27 5 69 28 3South 68 28 4 65 30 5West 69 26 5 62 35 3Religion:Protestant 71 25 4 68 28 4Catholic 71 25 4 6l 35 3Politics:Republican 75 22 3 69 26 5Democrat 68 27 5 65 31 4Inde~ndent 6B 28 4 64 33 3Source: George H. Gallup, The Gallup Opinion Index, Report I'b. 141 (Princeton, N.J.: The GallupPoll, April 1977), p. 16; George H. Gallup, The Gallup ~rt, Report I'b. 200 (Princeton, N.J.: TheGallup Poll, Moy 1982), p. 36. Table adapted by SOlRCEB staff. R.'printed by ~ermission.Public Attitudes Toward Crime and Criminal Justice-Related TopicsTable 2.51 Attitudes toward selected methods of dealing withcrime, United States, 1981NJTE: See NJTE, Table 2.34.Question: "Do y()U approve or disapprove of these alternativesfor dealing with crime?"Method(Percent)A!>QroveDisaQproveDon'tknowAllowing the police to stop andsearch anybody on suspicion 48 50 2Allowing the police to wiretap thetelephone of anyone they suspect 30 67 3Allowing the police to searcha home without a warrant 13 86Encouraging citizens to carrydefensive weapons such as Mace 65 32 3Source: "The Plague of Violent Crime," Newsweek, Mar. 23, 1981,b' 52. Cop~rtght 19111 by Newsweek Inc. All rights reserved. Reprintedy permiSSion.