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34 Criminology 453 (1996)
Conservative Protestantism and the Perceived Wrongfulness of Crimes: A Research Note

handle is hein.journals/crim34 and id is 463 raw text is: CONSERVATIVE PROTESTANTISM AND THE PERCEIVED WRONGFULNESS OF CRIMES: A RESEARCH NOTE* THEODORE R. CURRY Washington State University This research addresses the relationship between conservative Protes- tantism and the perceived wrongfulness of crimes. In a recent study, Warr (1989) identified nondiscriminators-people who perceived a wide range of crimes to be equally morally wrong. Although lacking measures of religion, Warr hypothesized, based on their written com- ments, that the respondents used religious beliefs to assess wrongful- ness. Since Protestant theology tends to view morality categorically, with no gradations between the extremes, those individuals who most strongly adhere to this doctrine may be the nondiscriminators. This study tests and finds strong support for this hypothesis, which has important implications for the recent shift toward increased punitive- ness in sentencing, research concerning public perceptions of crime, and studies of religion. Although religion has always affected the practice of punishment (Gar- land, 1990), in the United States today this force is growing more influen- tial. Recently, the ongoing national debate concerning crime and punishment has shifted toward the law and order position (Krisberg, 1991). Since the Reagan era, a coalition of traditional Protestant groups and denominations has become highly influential in such debates (Guth et al., 1988; Wald et al., 1988). Their position represents a shift away from earlier rehabilitative correctional efforts (Krisberg, 1991), vast judicial dis- cretion, and an emphasis on the rights of the accused toward increased punitiveness, mandatory sentences, and a reduction in appeals. Among the strongest and most vocal advocates of this position are conservative Protestants-a now well-organized, politically oriented religious group and social movement (Ammerman, 1987). The link between conservative Protestantism and debates about crime and punishment is important because public perceptions are increasingly used to anchor criminal justice policy (see Gregg v. Georgia, 428, U.S. 184; Nagel, 1990), and as particular * Support for this research was provided by the College of Arts and Sciences, University of Oklahoma, as part of the annual Oklahoma City Survey, directed by Harold G. Grasmick and Robert J. Bursik, Jr. I wish to thank Robert J. Bursik, Jr., John K. Cochran, Valerie Jenness, and especially, Harold G. Grasmick and Mark C. Stafford for their insightful comments on earlier versions of this article. CRIMINOLOGY VOLUME 34 NUMBER 3 1996 453

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