Measuring Perceptions of Crime Severity: Developing a Contemporary Thurstone Scale

This study develops a Thurstone scale assessing public perceptions of crime severity. 227 participants (average age 41.62, SD = 9.95) compared 9 criminal offenses drawn from the BJS Crime Victimization Survey and FBI Uniform Crime Reports. Findings refine theoretical constructs of crime seriousness, informing policy, law enforcement, and judicial decisions.