NCJ Number
129642
Journal
American Jails Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: (March/April 1991) Pages: 44-45
Date Published
1991
Length
2 pages
Annotation
The American Justice Institute of Sacramento conducted a survey of Californian residents to determine their views on different kinds of punishment.
Abstract
About 1,000 residents from 6 metropolitan areas that contribute the most of the States' prison population were asked to respond to 25 hypothetical cases regarding prison or probation options. After volunteers read a description of the current prison population, costs of prison construction, and alternatives to institutionalization and related costs, the respondents were asked again to choose options for the same cases, but with a wider range of punishment options. In addition to prison and probation, strict probation, community service, restitution, drug treatment, house arrest, or boot camp incarceration were included. Given the initial choice, the respondents indicated that 60 percent of the offenders should be imprisoned. In contrast, given more options, the respondents indicated that only 27 percent of offenders should be imprisoned. These results indicate that a well informed public is open to community based intermediate sanctions. 2 graphs