NCJ Number
215187
Journal
Criminal Justice Studies Volume: 19 Issue: 2 Dated: June 2006 Pages: 153-170
Date Published
June 2006
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study assessed the degree of support for rehabilitation versus punishment among a sample of students majoring in criminal justice.
Abstract
Results indicated that female college students and senior students in the criminal justice major were consistently less punitive and more supportive of rehabilitation than were male college students and freshmen students in the criminal justice major. Five variables emerged as the most efficient predictors of support for rehabilitation: empathy; the occupational attractiveness item of corrections counselor; political ideology; gender; and the size of the town where the student was raised. No significant differences were found in support for rehabilitation across different majors. Overall, the findings do not explain a large percentage of the variation in attitudes toward rehabilitation. Participants were a purposive convenience sample of 633 college students from 5 colleges and universities who completed a questionnaire designed to measure students’ attitudes toward rehabilitation. A questionnaire measuring empathy was also administered. Statistical data analysis included the use of ordinary least squares multiple regression models and t-tests. Continued research is needed to elaborate and clarify the extent of public support for the rehabilitation of offenders. Tables, references, appendixes