Assessing Public Support for Collateral and Other Consequences of Criminal Convictions

Abstract

Amid the growing recognition of the limits of excessive criminal punishment, scholars have begun to assess public support for restrictive and punitive laws and other collateral consequences of a criminal conviction. Building on this work, we analyze data from an original survey of U.S. residents (N = 1,002) to assess support for 23 specific social, legal, and health consequences across 11 life domains, many of which hold important implications for desistance and life-course criminology. Descriptive analyses reveal that support for specific consequences and prohibitions varies greatly, yet it generally follows a similar pattern across conviction types. General linear regression models indicate that those who perceive society as more just, hold more punitive outlooks, and perceive a higher risk of crime victimization are more supportive of social and legal consequences. We discuss the findings’ implications for policy and practice within a society that may be in the beginning stages of a correctional turning point.