Qualitative responses law and order

Saturday, 11 August 2012 17:38 | Written by Graham Young

There are a multitude of "mores" in this research as in "Does the Queensland Government need to do more or less to deal with crime in Queensland?" While an overwhelming majority answered yes, the qual shows that many were advocating entirely different responses whilst agreeing. Then of course there was still a significant minority who disagreed.

The Leximancer map is useful in understanding some of the differences.

More About Crime Leximancer

At one end of the spectrum are those who don't think that crime is an "issue" and think the state is doing enough, or maybe doesn't need to do as much. Many can quote statistics that crime has been in decline for some time. Others combine this with a concern that the causes of crime need to be tackled rather than crime itself.

As we move down from the top we come to those who agree that "more" needs to be done. One part of this group is likely to refer to "crime" and the other to "crimes". "Crime" is generally used more abstractly than "crimes" and is more likely to refer to the general situation around crime rather than specific examples of crime. There is also a higher likelihood that "crime" will be used by those who preference Labor, and "crimes" by those who preference LNP.

The LNP supporter is more likely to be associated with punishment, and to be critical of judges being "too soft". On the map you can see "penalties", "punishment", "sentences", "judges", "courts" and "offenders" all grouped next to "Final_Pref_lnp". "Slap" as in "slap on the wrist", is also there. Not quite so closely associated are "control" and "system". "System" frequently refers to the "court system".

So at this end of the map there is an inherent belief that control of the problem lies in punishing those who offend and that part of the problem is that the justice system is failing us.

As you move further up the map the concerns are more about how you stop people becoming criminals in the first place. So it is about support, ensuring people are rehabilitated and curing social problems that put people in a position of social disadvantage.

Interestingly the "Gold Coast" makes an appearance - it would seem that it has become our own local version of "Miami Vice", something that Gold Coast politicians and the tourism industry might like to pay attention to.

Verbatim

THEME: crime

(crime, police, law, increase, laws, order, seems)

crime

(Hits: 118)

Is that a crime? Yes. Can Sack should lock himself up and throw away the key.

police

(Hits: 46)

Final_Pref: labor

Crime: much_more

COLUMN: crime_why

more staff for police stations, Freeing up Officers for crime prevention/solving

law	(Hits: 30)

Final_Pref: neither,_i_will_not_allocate_preferences

Crime: more

COLUMN: crime_why

The continual stories we see and hear on the news surroudning crime particularly around the Gold Coast, Logan and the Sunshine Coast are just awful. Campbell Newman promissed action on law and order.

increase

(Hits: 26)

Final_Pref: lnp

Crime: much_more

COLUMN: crime_why

THere appears to be little justice as to crime and crime is certainly on the increase

laws	(Hits: 24)

Final_Pref: labor

Crime: neither_more_nor_less

COLUMN: crime_why

Dealing with crime is not a quick fix with "tough legislation" responses. Toughest laws in Australia usually means window dressing

order

(Hits: 15)

Final_Pref: labor

Crime: neither_more_nor_less

COLUMN: crime_why

Crime is not a big issue the crime stats are constantly improving.. Law and order is a "beat up" issue.

seems

(Hits: 16)

Final_Pref: labor

Crime: neither_more_nor_less

COLUMN: crime_why

I dont think crime in Queensland is too bad, seems an adequate job is being done.

THEME: crimes

(crimes, sentences, sentencing, penalties, offenders)

crimes

(Hits: 26)

Final_Pref: labor

Crime: more

COLUMN: crime_why

Cases need to proceed through the Courts much quicker than they do now so more crimes can be dealt with.

sentences

(Hits: 18)

Final_Pref: lnp

Crime: more

COLUMN: crime_why

there needs to more judiciary support to the work of Police officers - maybe mandatory sentences for the worst proven crimes.

sentencing

(Hits: 16)

Final_Pref: lnp

Crime: more

COLUMN: crime_why

I am tired of seeing judges and magistrates give "slap on the wrist" penalties to those convicted of crimes deserving much tougher sentences. Judicial freedom is all very well provided those sentencing administer what the community expects to see handed out as punishment.

penalties

(Hits: 18)

Final_Pref: labor

Crime: more

COLUMN: crime_why

lesser crimes and white collar crimes need to be solved and the participants prosecuted and increasing penalties on capital crimes IS NOT THE ANSWER. Where do we send those unfortunates that are caught - DUH,Australia.

offenders

(Hits: 17)

No one is seriously trying to catch the offenders.More cops on the street perhaps instead of writing speeding tickets and protecting industry.

THEME: people

(people, system, criminals, criminal)

people

(Hits: 39)

Final_Pref: lnp

Crime: much_more

COLUMN: crime_why

Too many people getting off lightly. Punish them first then hopefully they won't reoffend.

system

(Hits: 17)

Regarding crime, the over-representation of Indigenous people in jails and juvenile detention demonstrates that there is gross inequities in Qld and that the community services are not funded well enough to provide preventative support to people. It is no accident or genetic related reason why poor and marginalised people are over-represented in the justice system.

criminals

(Hits: 19)

Final_Pref: i_haven't_decided

Crime: much_more

COLUMN: crime_why

Crime damages the poor who have to live among the poor and disadvantaged who become ’criminals’ because of the social conditions that deny them any other way of coping with the problems that vulnerable people develop when they grow up in a deprived and dysfunctional family and community. The answer is to prevent this unfortunate circumstance from developing by investing in our population and providing each child with the resources they need to develop into decent functional people.

criminal

(Hits: 15)

To be a criminal is not a free choice that people make; they are ’forced’ by circumstances to behave in dysfunctional ways and these ways are dysfunctional for them as well as for us and by us I mean the other poor people who have to live among them. Unlike you rich people who make the laws that create the problem, we can't avoid the problem by moving to a more expensive suburb.

THEME: needs

(needs, time, Crime)

needs

(Hits: 26)

Final_Pref: neither,_i_will_not_allocate_preferences

Crime: more

COLUMN: crime_why

The recent rash of robberies, ram raids, shootings etc needs to be addressed

time	(Hits: 23)

Final_Pref: neither,_i_will_not_allocate_preferences

Crime: much_more

COLUMN: crime_why

The system needs JUDGES to impose true sentences not token sentencing with early paroles all the time.

Crime

(Hits: 26)

Final_Pref: lnp

Crime: more

COLUMN: crime_why

Crime is getting worse and needs to be dealed with.

THEME: believe

(believe)

believe

(Hits: 17)

If all were to believe themselves to be created by a loving Creator, who is working in them to make them capable and responsible, loved and able to love others, then they would be contented.

THEME: issue

(issue)

issue

(Hits: 15)

Final_Pref: i_do_not_wish_to_answer

Crime: neither_more_nor_less

COLUMN: crime_why

It is not an issue.

THEME: control

(control)

control

(Hits: 18)