L’opinion publique et les politiques criminelles

Abstract

Public opinion plays a role in crime policies to the extent that judges take it into consideration in their sentences and the government authorities rely on its support, for example, when changing certain laws (criminalizing or decriminalizing behaviour that is or is no longer disapproved of by the community). However, public opinion is not always based on fact. For example, the public holds that the majority of criminals are dangerous, whereas violent crimes constitute only from 6% to 10% of all crimes. The population believes that the death sentence is an effective deterrent, whereas crimi-nological research has shown that this is not so. The «vox populi» necessitates caution. It speaks “emotionally”, and although it must be heard, it is not always advisable to obey it.