Examination on the multidimensional structure of public opinion on criminal policy

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K01095
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 05010:Legal theory and history-related
• Research Institution: Rikkyo University (2022-2023); Chiba University (2021)
• Principal Investigator: SAEKI Masahiko 立教大学, 法学部, 教授 (10547813)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 刑事政策 / 世論 / 応報的公正

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research project, a web survey was conducted to examine public attitudes toward punishment. In measuring public attitudes, macro-level attitudes and micro-level attitudes are distinguished. As to the former, people are asked abstractly whether they approve or disapprove of several criminal policies. As to the latter, they are required to think about appropriate punishments on specific cases.
The results of the data analysis suggest that, with regard to macro-level attitudes, the public is not exclusively in favor of severe punishment, but is also in favor of policies that promote the reintegration of offenders, suggesting that it is not appropriate to regard public opinion as being exclusively punishment-oriented. The results of the micro-level attitudes also suggest that the public does not always seek severe punishment, and that the relationship between support for severe punishment in macro-level and the public's opinions on punishment in specific cases is limited.

Free Research Field

法社会学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

刑事政策上の議論に際して、世論は専ら厳罰政策を支持するものとして受け止められてきた。本調査は、国民の刑罰に関する考え方が多様であることを、マクロ刑罰意識とミクロ刑罰意識とを区別しつつ確認した。本調査結果からは，国民の刑罰意識を単純に厳罰志向的なものと捉えずに、その内容を慎重に整理する必要があること、また、厳罰を求める意見が、実際に刑事司法で扱われる事件のどの範囲にまで及ぶものであるのかを慎重に見極める必要があることが示唆される。このように、刑事政策上の議論を行うにあたって世論をどのように整理し、位置付けるかを考えるうえで、本調査結果は参照すべき知見を提供している。