Study title

These data were collected for the second study on public support for vigilantism. The data collection was carried out by Leiden University criminology students, for the 'Research methods' course. Respondents received 1 vignette about vigilantism and a questionnaire. There were 4 versions of the vignette, based on 2 experimental factors: amount of vigilante violence (low/high) and police responsiveness to the precipitating crime (low/high). Vigilantism consisted of violence after an alleged case of shoplifting. The questionnaire consists of 17 items about the case of vigilantism, 27 items about the justice system, and 3 items about general concern over crime. Demographic information was also collected. To study the causes of public support for vigilantism. There are two main hypotheses: 1. Confidence hypothesis: support for vigilantism is caused by a low/lack of confidence in the criminal justice system 2. Situation hypothesis: support for vigilantism depends on situational characteristics of vigilantism itself Specific hypotheses for this particular study: a) the more vigilante violence, the less support for vigilantism b) the more police responsiveness, the less support for vigilantism c) the more confidence in the criminal justice system, the less support for vigilantism d) the more general concern over crime, the less support for vigilantism.

Data available in consultation with NSCR. Please contact the datamanager [datamanagement@nscr.nl]