27 September 2023

Crime survey finds public in the dark

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The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) has released a new study, finding that many NSW residents hold mistaken beliefs about crime and the criminal justice system.

The Bureau found 62 per cent of survey respondents believed that violent crime was on the rise, when it’s actually stable, and 44 per cent believed that property crime was increasing, when it is instead falling.

“Survey respondents also frequently underestimate the proportion of offenders who are convicted and imprisoned,” the Bureau said.

“The study also found that the majority of those surveyed in 2019 are confident that the criminal justice system (CJS) respects the rights of the accused (74 per cent), treats accused people fairly (74 per cent) and brings people to justice (60 per cent),” it said.

“However, two out of every three (66 per cent) believe sentences handed down by the courts are ‘too lenient’, only 44 per cent expressed confidence that the CJS meets the needs of victims and only one in three (31 per cent) NSW residents were confident that the CJS deals with cases promptly.”

BOCSAR said the findings were from a representative survey of 2,000 NSW residents in May and June 2019.

“Confidence in the CJS was found to be higher among men, young people, the more highly educated, people on higher incomes, and those residing in metropolitan areas,” it said.

“It was lower amongst people recently exposed to crime and those who mistakenly believe that crime is rising.”

It said the data showed that levels of confidence in the CJS had generally not improved over the last decade and that punitive views remained common.

“The exception is the extent to which the CJS meets the needs of victims, which is now significantly higher than in 2007 (44 per cent vs 36 per cent, respectively),” the Bureau said.

BOCSAR’s 38-page report, Public confidence in the New South Wales criminal justice system: 2019 update, can be accessed at this PS News link.

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