Understanding the Relationship Between Public Opinion and Experience With the Criminal Justice System

Surveys indicate that between 70% and 80% of people consider judges to be too lenient. This current research confirms the inadequacy of this general measure of public opinion by contrasting it with alternative opinion-based measures of court sentencing across specific criminal cases. The article also explores the impact of public's experiences of the criminal justice system on their opinions about the courts. Having been a victim or attending a criminal case where the punishment was seen as being too lenient seems to cause greater dissatisfaction, whereas contact with people working with victims or who have been in prison improves the level of satisfaction.