Research Announced on Public Attitudes to Alternatives to Prosecution
29 Mar 2007
The research, conducted during March 2006, involved interviews with 1,027 people aged 15 and over in England and Wales and four focus groups. In addition there were six focus groups with victims and witnesses to test their views of out of court penalties for adults and youth. They were delivered to OCJR in April/May last year as part of a review of out of court penalties commissioned by the Solicitor General.
The research was used to help inform policy decisions and has been available to justice practitioners on the practitioner area of the cjsonline website since June 2006.
Ipsos MORI has asked for the material to be put into the public domain, as have practitioners who have been quoting from it as a source work since last year and have been getting requests from interested organisations and members of the public who are keen to see the 94 page report and draw on its findings.
The findings are interesting as they show:
• Nine out of 10 participants think that first time minor criminal offences need not necessarily be dealt with by the courts;
• Half of those participants think a caution or reprimand would be the most appropriate disposal;
• Six out of 10 participants think that second minor offences (that this is after a FPN or warning has been given) could be dealt with out of the courts;
• A quarter of participants think the best way to deal with second minor offences is by a caution with conditions attached, such as compensation or making amends;
• A 44% majority of participants felt the most appropriate way to deal with offenders who own up to minor offences was for them to make amends to the victim, for example by compensation or an apology.