Incarceration without Dehumanization: Public Support for Policies to Reduce Correctional Officer Misconduct

Abstract

Misconduct committed against incarcerated people is severe and dehumanizing. As the media has begun to shine light on correctional officer misconduct, corrections departments have started implementing policies to curb misbehavior, such as equipping officers with body-worn cameras. Using survey data from a national sample (N = 1,000), the study explores attitudes toward policies intended to reduce officer misconduct in prisons. We also test experimentally whether information about misconduct affects policy preferences. Notably, we examine how racial attitudes are related to policy preferences and whether they moderate the effect of information on the latter. Findings reveal most Americans support reforms, that support is lower among those holding racially resentful or White nationalist views, and that information about misconduct increases support. Finally, there is not a significant interaction between the information and the racial variables suggesting that everyone, regardless of racial views, may be persuaded to support reform efforts.