General Social Survey 2008 Cross-Section and Panel Combined - Analysis
COURTS
In general, do you think the courts in this area deal too harshly or not harshly enough with criminals?
| Frequency | Percent | Cumulative Percent | Z-Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1) Too harsh | 393 | 11.0% | 11.0% | -0.93 |
| 2) Not harsh enough | 2237 | 62.9% | 73.9% | -0.32 |
| 3) About right | 669 | 18.8% | 92.7% | 0.29 |
| 8) Don't know | 251 | 7.1% | 99.7% | 3.34 |
| 9) No answer | 9 | 0.3% | 100.0% | 3.95 |
Age (I-AGE)
| 18-29 years old | 30-44 years old | 45-59 years old | 60-74 years old | 75 years and older | Missing | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Too harsh | 18.8%108 | 11.8%115 | 10.6%107 | 6.8%45 | 5.2%16 | 2 | 11.1%391 |
| Not harsh enough | 55.9%322 | 63.8%621 | 64.3%649 | 66.2%439 | 61.0%186 | 20 | 62.9%2217 |
| About right | 17.0%98 | 17.8%173 | 19.6%198 | 19.2%127 | 22.3%68 | 5 | 18.8%664 |
| Don't know | 8.2%47 | 6.5%63 | 5.3%53 | 7.2%48 | 11.5%35 | 5 | 7.0%246 |
| No answer | 0.2%1 | 0.2%2 | 0.2%2 | 0.6%4 | 0.0%0 | 0 | 0.3%9 |
| Missing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 0 |
| Total | 100%576 | 100%974 | 100%1009 | 100%663 | 100%305 | 3527 |
Worship attendance (I-ATTEND)
| Never | Several times a year or less | 1-3 times a month | Every week or nearly every week | More than once a week | Missing | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Too harsh | 14.2%105 | 11.7%130 | 11.6%63 | 8.4%72 | 7.7%23 | 0 | 11.1%393 |
| Not harsh enough | 56.8%420 | 62.1%692 | 66.8%362 | 65.4%559 | 66.7%198 | 6 | 62.9%2231 |
| About right | 19.6%145 | 19.6%218 | 15.5%84 | 20.5%175 | 15.2%45 | 2 | 18.8%667 |
| Don't know | 9.3%69 | 6.4%71 | 6.1%33 | 5.4%46 | 9.4%28 | 4 | 7.0%247 |
| No answer | 0.0%0 | 0.3%3 | 0.0%0 | 0.4%3 | 1.0%3 | 0 | 0.3%9 |
| Missing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Total | 100%739 | 100%1114 | 100%542 | 100%855 | 100%297 | 3547 |
Education (I-EDUC)
| Left high school | High school | Junior college | Bachelor | Graduate | Missing | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Too harsh | 18.5%89 | 9.8%172 | 9.6%29 | 9.8%64 | 10.8%39 | 0 | 11.0%393 |
| Not harsh enough | 60.4%291 | 69.4%1220 | 63.0%191 | 56.6%370 | 45.7%165 | 0 | 62.9%2237 |
| About right | 14.9%72 | 14.4%253 | 21.1%64 | 26.0%170 | 30.5%110 | 0 | 18.8%669 |
| Don't know | 6.2%30 | 6.1%107 | 5.9%18 | 7.6%50 | 12.2%44 | 2 | 7.0%249 |
| No answer | 0.0%0 | 0.3%5 | 0.3%1 | 0.0%0 | 0.8%3 | 0 | 0.3%9 |
| Missing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 100%482 | 100%1757 | 100%303 | 100%654 | 100%361 | 3557 |
Gender (I-GENDER)
| Male | Female | Missing | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Too harsh | 13.6%213 | 9.0%180 | 0 | 11.0%393 |
| Not harsh enough | 59.2%929 | 65.7%1308 | 0 | 62.9%2237 |
| About right | 21.0%329 | 17.1%340 | 0 | 18.8%669 |
| Don't know | 5.9%93 | 7.9%158 | 0 | 7.1%251 |
| No answer | 0.3%5 | 0.2%4 | 0 | 0.3%9 |
| Missing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 100%1569 | 100%1990 | 3559 |
Region (I-REGION)
| Northeast | Midwest | South | West | Missing | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Too harsh | 11.2%68 | 9.4%74 | 10.9%143 | 12.8%108 | 0 | 11.0%393 |
| Not harsh enough | 56.6%344 | 62.5%491 | 68.4%901 | 59.0%500 | 1 | 62.8%2236 |
| About right | 20.9%127 | 20.4%160 | 14.7%194 | 22.2%188 | 0 | 18.8%669 |
| Don't know | 11.3%69 | 7.3%57 | 5.7%75 | 5.9%50 | 0 | 7.1%251 |
| No answer | 0.0%0 | 0.5%4 | 0.3%4 | 0.1%1 | 0 | 0.3%9 |
| Missing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 100%608 | 100%786 | 100%1317 | 100%847 | 3558 |
Religion (I-RELIGION)
| Protestant | Catholic | Jewish | None | Other (specify) | Missing | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Too harsh | 9.4%171 | 10.1%85 | 11.3%7 | 17.0%99 | 12.3%30 | 1 | 11.0%392 |
| Not harsh enough | 68.1%1239 | 62.1%522 | 53.2%33 | 50.7%295 | 57.2%139 | 9 | 62.8%2228 |
| About right | 16.8%305 | 20.3%171 | 21.0%13 | 22.2%129 | 21.0%51 | 0 | 18.9%669 |
| Don't know | 5.4%99 | 7.3%61 | 14.5%9 | 10.1%59 | 9.1%22 | 1 | 7.0%250 |
| No answer | 0.3%6 | 0.2%2 | 0.0%0 | 0.0%0 | 0.4%1 | 0 | 0.3%9 |
| Missing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Total | 100%1820 | 100%841 | 100%62 | 100%582 | 100%243 | 3548 |
