Improving Public Confidence in the Criminal Justice System: An Evaluation of a Communication Activity

Abstract: Drawing on criminological, communications and marketing theory, a booklet containing facts about the criminal justice system (CJS) was designed and delivered to over 2,000 members of the public in three different ways. Knowledge of, and attitudes toward, the CJS were tested before and after receipt of the booklet and the results compared with a control group. The experiment provides evidence, based on a rigorous research methodology, that effective presentation of national and local crime statistics and other CJS information can have a positive impact on public confidence. The findings also demonstrate that the delivery mechanism of information is also important.