The Perception of the General Public Is That the Criminal

Multiple Choice

The perception of the general public is that the criminal justice system is far too lenient. What does the research evidence suggest about the use of harsher penalties as a method of deterrence?

A) Harsher penalties are only effective for robbery and theft due to the typical age of the offenders.
B) Research findings suggest that for violent crimes, harsher penalties are a clear deterrent.
C) There have not been sufficient studies conducted on this issue to allow conclusions to be drawn.
D) There does not appear to be solid evidence to suggest that harsher penalties lead to decreased crime rates.