The Impact of Perception of the Criminal Justice System on the Acceptance of Vigilantism

Recent attention has focused on private sanctions, where individuals or organizations impose penalties as alternatives to the criminal justice system due to perceived inefficiency or unfairness. This study examines how perceptions of the criminal justice system influence acceptance of private sanctions. Data were collected from a nationwide online survey of 1,000 adults, analyzed using hierarchical regression. Model 1 identified “age” and “education level” as significant factors, while Model 2 found “trust in criminal justice agencies” to be the primary factor. Younger and less-educated individuals were more accepting of private sanctions, as were those with lower trust in institutions such as courts, police, and prosecutors. Enhancing public trust and perceptions of fairness within the criminal justice system is essential to address the growing favorability toward private sanctions.