This study examines the perceptions of the seriousness of offenses:first, by examining perceptions of a wide range of oflenses f o r respondents from two verg divergent cultures, the United States and the Middle East, second, by assessing the perceived severity of s m 17 sanctions for respondents from these two cultures and finally, by assessing the impact of religiosity on the perceived seriourmess of Crime. In addition, both the magnitude estimation and category techniques for measuring the seriousness of c r i m are utilized and t h~ results from using these two techniques are compared The literature in the area of perceptions of the seriousness of offenses is characterized by a dearth of cross-cultural research. A few crosscultural studies have been conducted. However, they have been restricted in scope by the limited range of offenses that have been included and the number and diversity of cultures that have been examined. This article extends the research in the area of cross-cultural perceptions of offense seriousness: first, by examining perceptions of a wide range of offenses for respondents from two very divergent cultures, the United States and the Middle East, second, by assessing the perceived severity AUTHORS NOTE: Revised version of a paper presented at the American SocwlogiCal Association's annual meeting in Sun Francisco, September 6-10, 1982. We A h to express our appreciation to the am-referees for their helpful comments on an earlier dra& of this article. This article is the joint product of both authors, who shared equally in the writing and rewriting. The order of our names is merely alphabetical.

The United States is one of the few nations that permits the execution of offenders for murders committed while under the age of 18. The juvenile death penalty has received considerable media and public attention both nationally and internationally. Yet despite the extensive literature on public attitudes toward the death penalty, little research exists on public attitudes toward the juvenile death penalty. This article examines attitudes toward this penalty, using data collected in a telephone survey of two midwestern cities. A substantial majority of those surveyed opposed the death penalty for juveniles above the age of 14 convicted of murder. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Many studies have been conducted on the decision-making processes of social control agencies. These studies have provided considerable insight into both the legal and non-legal factors which affect people who come into contact with representatives of such agencies. While substantial research has already been conducted concerning the discretionary practices of police, prosecutors, judges and juries and the effect of their practices on the legal norm-violator's contact with the law, there is one area in the criminal justice system which has been almost totally neglected. Few studies have investigated the processes which determine when, how, and why norm-violators who have been found guilty and incarcerated should be released from our penal institutions.

A simple mathematical model of thick-section stainless steel cutting with a high power chemical oxygen–iodine laser (COIL) is presented and compared with experimental results obtained with a 10-kilowatt COIL at the U.S. Air Force's Phillips Laboratory. This model uses a lumped-parameter technique to relate the cutting kerf depth with various process parameters and can be used to predict scaled laser materials processing performance to very thick sections. The model is similar to an empirical model developed by researchers in Japan, but includes predictive capabilities for thick metal cutting at very low velocities. The effects of various process parameters such as laser power, spot size and dimensions, and processing speed in the cutting depth are discussed and demonstrated. Finally, the ramifications of this model on thick-section processing of metals are presented, with emphasis on potential applications of COIL to high-speed, thick stainless steel cutting.