Public v Elite Opinion on Correctional Reform - Implications for Social Policy

• NCJ Number: 76180
• Journal: Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 8 Issue: 6 Dated: (1980) Pages: 345-356
• Author(s): P J Riley; V M Rose
• Date Published: 1981
• Length: 12 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH 8559-11
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Differences in the opinions of the general public and of persons in program initiation, approval, or implementation roles (elites) were investigated in the State of Washington.

Abstract

A questionnaire was mailed to 1,450 persons whose names were randomly selected from a telephone listing of all Washington communities. The survey collected information on respondents' opinions on correctional reform. Results were compared with data on the opinions of Washington elites gathered in an earlier study. About 12 percent of the public respondents felt that the State prison system was working well, while 49 percent disagreed, and 38 percent were undecided. Interest in prison policies and reform was professed by 79 percent of the group, while 5 percent were disinterested. A total of 83 percent felt that a community education program was needed to some degree to provide information about prison reform issues. About 46 percent of the respondents agreed with the statement that people who have been in prison are more likely to commit crimes again than those who have been on probation, while 27 percent disagreed. A total of 10 percent agreed with a statement that it is more expensive to put persons on probation or parole than it is to incarcerate them, 65 percent disagreed, and 25 percent were undecided. Of the elites, 77 percent felt that the public would support punitive incarceration in the future, while 15 percent felt that the public would oppose it. A total of 57 percent expected rehabilitation to have future public support, but only 1 percent expected strong support from the public. About 33 percent expected some opposition to rehabilitation programming in the future. Only 2 percent expected strong public endorsement of community supervision in the future, while almost 50 percent expected opposition. Future opposition in this area was estimated as very likely by 42 percent of the elites, while only 8 percent felt that such opposition was unlikely. The attitudes of the general public generally correlated well with those of elites. Elites may be misinformed about the willingness of the public to support innovation and change in the correctional system, and about public attitudes toward corrections reform. Notes, tabular data, and 43 references are included.