Predicting support for fine penalty replacing imprisonment: Crime type, the severity of crime, situational factors and demographic characteristics: A factorial survey approach

Abstract

We aimed to examine the contribution of crime type, the severity of crime, and situational factors to predict the perception of fine penalty replacing imprisonment. We used snowball sampling method to find 451 respondents from China participated in eight crime scenarios. The results of the chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis showed the following. (1) “The public's attitude toward fine penalty instead of imprisonment” was related to crime type, severity, situational case factors, the respondent's Hukou (Household registration), and educational background. (2) Many respondents supported independent application of fine penalty to less serious violent crimes. (3) The respondents with rural Hukou or without legal education backgrounds preferred fine penalty to imprisonment.