Punitive Attitudes Research Articles

What About Language?: A Mixed Methods Examination of the Impact of Person-Centered Language on Students' Perceptions of Individuals Who Commit Sex Offenses.

Person-centered language is a well-known approach to reducing stigmatizing labels among marginalized groups. However, little research has explored person-centered language's impact in criminal justice classrooms. Utilizing a mixed-method research design, this study explores the impact of person-centered language on students' perceptions of persons convicted of sex offenses. The study used three sections of an online Sex Crimes course. The course sections were identical, except for the language used and awareness of person-centered language; the control group section did not utilize person-centered language, the second section utilized person-centered language, and the third section utilized person-centered language and was given an informational lecture on stigmatizing language. Quantitative data was collected from the Perceptions of Sex Offenders Scale at the beginning and end of the semester. Students' end-of-semester reflection papers served as the qualitative component. The findings suggest shifts in punitive attitudes toward sentencing and management for the group exposed to person-centered language and the informational lecture. These differences were not apparent for the other groups and subscales. While qualitative data provided a more in-depth understanding of students' perceptions, overall, exposure to person-centered language didn't seem to impact student perceptions. However, exposure alongside a lecture about person-centered language, seemingly had a more pronounced impact on students' perceptions, suggesting that transparency surrounding language and reducing stigma are important components of person-centered language. The findings have implications for using person-centered language for criminal justice pedagogical practices, as well as considerations beyond the classroom (e.g., program development and curricula).

Who is culpable in fentanyl-induced deaths? A survey vignette investigating public perceptions of drug supplier culpability

PurposeThe fentanyl crisis has received national attention. In the current context, this study sought to assess whether public perception of criminal culpability varies by who supplies fentanyl to an individual who later dies from an overdose. MethodsAn experimental vignette of fentanyl-induced death scenarios was implemented by randomizing the relationship of the drug suppliers to the victims as well as race of both the drug supplier and victim. In total, there were eight scenarios. ResultsOLS regressions on a sample of 4820, found that respondents assigned a scenario where a drug dealer was the fentanyl provider (compared to a friend as the provider) were significantly more likely to support punitive action. There were no significant differences when the race of the drug provider and/or victim were randomized. Robustness checks confirmed these punitive attitudes towards drug dealers. ConclusionsThe public views drug dealers as more culpable in fentanyl overdoses. However, the race of both the drug supplier and victim did not impact perceptions of criminal culpability. During a national fentanyl epidemic, the findings have implications for public attitudes towards drug suppliers, public policy, and future research.

Exploring individual-level predictors of punitive attitudes in Australia

ABSTRACT Western countries tend to display preferences for the harsh punishment of people with criminal justice involvement. Drawing on a representative survey of the Australian population, the present study explores punitive attitudes and what factors shape the development of these attitudes at an individual level. More specifically, the study considers the role of age, sex, level of education, geographic location, perceptions of crime, fear of crime, confidence in the criminal justice system, media consumption, crime causation, beliefs in redeemability, interpersonal trust, political ideology, racial essentialism, and minority threat in predicting the punitive attitudes of Australians. The results indicate that generally Australians are somewhat punitive and that the strongest predictors of these attitudes are: internal attribution of crime, perceptions of rising crime rates, a lack of belief in redeemability, geographic location (specifically rural areas), a lack of interpersonal trust and a lack of support for multicultural principles together, creating a more robust understanding of punitive attitudes in Australia, which is currently lacking.

Crime-First Labels and Public Attitudes Toward Adolescent Girls in the Juvenile Legal System

Purpose: This study delves into the effects of labels, specifically crime-first language, on public attitudes toward adolescent girls within the juvenile legal system. Examining fictional vignettes depicting family conflict, the research explores whether the use of language influences the endorsement of punitive responses and if this effect varies across racial and ethnic lines. Method: A large online, statewide sample of adults ( n = 1,791) was randomized to one of six vignettes. Results: Findings reveal that crime-first language, “accused of domestic battery,” is significantly associated with more punitive attitudes. We found no interaction effects between race and label. Although effect sizes were small, the study emphasizes the need to reconsider language choices to avoid perpetuating negative stereotypes and stigmatization. Discussion: Identifying and disseminating person-first language may be an important form of social work practice that can enhance current efforts on the Social Work Grand Challenge of promoting smart decarceration.

Examining Sex- and Sexuality-Based Bias in Punitive Attitudes Toward Offenders Convicted of Intimate Partner Crimes: A Vignette Experiment

This experimental vignette study used nationally representative survey data ( n = 841) to examine the effects of perpetrator sex and sexuality and victim sex on simulated juror punitivity and sentencing recommendations for individuals convicted of aggravated assault and domestic abuse. Results show participants recommended longer sentences and higher fines for male than for female offenders, and for those who victimized women than for those who victimized men, suggesting the effects of jurorbias on punitive attitudes are influenced by offender and victim sex. However, the effects of offender sexuality were insignificant in modeling. Path analysis showed that sex differences found in baseline models were partially explained by stigmatization (i.e., perceptions of dangerousness, fatalism blame, and social distance) hypothetical jurors attached to offenders.

Unveiling the Elephant in the Room: How do Psychologists Perceive Individuals Convicted of Sexual Offenses?

The societal reintegration of individuals with criminal records, particularly involving sexual offenses, faces challenges due to moral condemnation. Professionals' perspectives are pivotal in facilitating this reintegration process. This study surveyed 314 psychologists via a web-based experiment to assess their judgments regarding allegations of sexual violence and perpetrator's denial. Psychologists with experience in working with individuals convicted of sexual offenses showed a decreased propensity to grant prison benefits upon the progressive disclosure of the sexual offense, which diminished further in the presence of denial. For psychologists lacking such professional experience, judgment worsened solely with the discovery of the sexual offense, but not with denial. Psychologists not experienced in working with individuals with sexual convictions were generally found to have higher levels of malignant satisfaction than their experienced counterparts. Additionally, experienced psychologists exhibited a greater willingness to manage forensic cases and endorsed the effectiveness of treatment, while non-experts displayed less confidence in treatment efficacy, hesitancy in working with such individuals, and a propensity to delegate the case. Availability to handle the case diminished as more information surfaced for both groups. These findings highlight differences in professionals' attitudes based on experience and suggest implications for understanding punitive attitudes towards individuals with sexual convictions.

Punishing Women for Miscarriage: The role of Political Orientation and Hostile Sexism

AbstractWomen’s reproductive autonomy is an ideologically divisive issue, and this divisiveness goes beyond just attitudes toward abortion to include other outcomes such as miscarriage. Previous research has established that hostile sexism is positively associated with punitive attitudes toward pregnant women who flout conventional pregnancy proscriptions. Across three studies (N1 = 296; N2 = 580, N3 = 308) we conceptually replicated this research while shifting the focus from abstract attitudes to concrete policies punishing women for miscarriage, and moving beyond hostile sexism to examine the role of political orientation (including libertarianism). In all three studies, hostile sexism remained a significant positive predictor of support for punishing women for miscarriage even after controlling for political orientation. Conservative and libertarian self-identification were positively associated with support for punishment at zero-order, and in multiple regressions adjusting for sexism and demographic variables, conservatism remained significantly positively related to support for punishment in two studies. Libertarianism was no longer a significant predictor of support for punishment after adjusting for sexism; with this in mind, we conducted mediation analyses and found significant indirect paths from libertarian identification through hostile sexism in two of the three studies. These findings provide evidence for the role of sexism and political ideology in the increasingly punitive post-Roe vs. Wade United States.

‘Lock them up and throw away the key’: an evaluation of the structure of punitive attitudes

Criminologists have developed different measures of public attitudes toward punishment. However, most of the research focuses on the explanation of punitive attitudes with scarce evaluation of the structure of the concept. The goal of this article is to conduct a sounder assessment of the measurement properties of punitive attitudes using exploratory and confirmatory analysis including bifactor analysis in a representative sample of 895 individuals. Results suggest that although confirmatory factor analysis shows that punitive attitudes are multidimensional, bifactor analysis provides support for a more unidimensional characterisation of the scale. Results suggest that conclusions regarding the dimensionality of punitive attitudes should be tempered by the type of analysis that is conducted. We finish discussing the implications for future research.

How Do Offender Ideology and Offense Severity Impact Punitive Attitudes Toward Politically Motivated Offenders in the U.S.?

How do punitive attitudes toward politically motivated offenders in the United States vary by the offender’s ideology? To address this, we conducted a survey experiment with U.S. adults (N = 1,100) in March 2023. Participants were randomly assigned to either the January 6th or Portland 2020 condition and indicated their punitive attitudes for three politically motivated offenses. Across ideologies, punitiveness toward politically motivated offenders increased with offense severity. Although some correlates of punitiveness toward typical offenders held for politically motivated offenders, most did not. Further, relationships varied as a function of offense type and offender ideology.

Corruption experience does not make voters harsher towards the corrupt incumbents – evidence from a survey experiment in Poland

ABSTRACT This study investigates the linkage between the experience of petty corruption and a more harsh stance on corruption scandals. A randomised vignette experiment in Poland tests how people tend to condone corruption. There are substantial mitigating effects of the arguments based on the implicit exchange and lack of credible information and no effect for the argument based on the lack of clean alternatives. Yet, people directly exposed to petty corruption were not less sensitive to any of the justifications. Thus, the linkage between the experience of corruption and more punitive attitudes towards corrupt officials may not work as expected.

Reshaping the narrative: Tracing the historical trajectory of HIV/AIDS, gay men, and public health in Sweden.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) emerged as an endemic health crisis in the United States during the early 1980s. Initially labelled a "gay disease" due to its prevalence among gay men, the spread of HIV led to widespread fear and moral panic, as there was limited medical knowledge on preventing its transmission. While HIV is often associated with Sub-Saharan Africa, this article focuses on Sweden, a pioneering nation that became the first to achieve the remarkable Joint UNAIDS/WHO 90-90-90 continuum in addressing the epidemic. However, despite this significant milestone, the punitive legislation and attitudes prevalent in Sweden have had a counterproductive effect on curbing the virus's spread. Drawing upon a comprehensive triangulation of various data and sources on the evolution of public policy in Sweden, this article argues for the urgent need to reduce stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS. By undertaking further measures to combat stigmatisation, we not only have the potential to prevent the spread of HIV but also significantly enhance the quality of life for individuals living with the virus. An essential step in this journey is to eliminate the legally-enforced mandatory disclosure of one's HIV status, which would mark a tremendous victory for all those affected. With limited evidence to support the effectiveness of criminalisation and penal laws, no longer being viewed as criminals for non-disclosure would be a monumental achievement, positively transforming the lives of people living with HIV and fostering a more inclusive and supportive society.

Policing juvenile delinquency in China: Exploring the influence of officer-related individual and organizational factors on discretionary police decision-making

PurposeThis study aims to explore police officers’ decision-making patterns for punishing, educating, and providing assistance to minors who have committed property, violent, or illegal drug use offenses. It further examines the impact of both officers’ individual characteristics and perceived organizational support on police reactions to the respective offenses. MethodsSurvey data were collected from 454 police officers at 18 police stations in a southwestern Chinese city. Police officers were provided with scenario-based vignettes that elicited their responses to the described offenses. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions were conducted to examine officer-related individual and organizational factors that influenced police decisions to punish, educate, and provide assistance to juvenile offenders involved in property, violent, and illegal drug use offenses. ResultsThe descriptive findings suggest that police officers may consider all three types of actions (i.e., punishing, educating, and assisting delinquent youth) in addressing juvenile delinquency (JD), with some variations in the actions taken in response to different types of offenses. The findings of the OLS regression analyses generally confirmed that both individual and organizational factors influenced police discretion on JD, but the effects varied according to police response and offense types. Specifically, punitive police attitudes toward delinquent youth and knowledge of relevant laws were robust predictors of officers’ intentions to punish juvenile offenders, and officers’ perceived community service roles and supervisor support were primarily correlated with their preferences for the use of education or assistance measures in addressing delinquency. Organizational training, however, did not show any significant effect on police inclinations in handling JD, regardless of decision or offense types. Unexpected findings are discussed in the “Discussion and Conclusion” section. ConclusionsThe study contributes to extant literature on police–juvenile encounters by examining the under-investigated individual and organizational correlates of police decision-making in the Chinese context. The findings highlight the importance of supervisory support and organizational training in managing individual officers’ discretionary power.

Punitive attitudes towards cartels: Evidence from an experimental study

Punitive attitudes towards cartels: Evidence from an experimental study

Punishing people through property: Strategic task force inspections at the nexus of criminal and civil legal systems

In this article, we investigate a largely unexplored policing mechanism: Strategic Task Force (STF) inspections in Chicago. This process exists at the intersection of civil and criminal legal systems: properties affiliated with criminal drug or gang activity are swept by building inspectors and police officers, with the explicit purpose of finding code violations and prompting civil legal action against the owner. Using two datasets of inspected buildings, we demonstrate that those who own properties targeted by the STF more often face financial and legal hurdles such as foreclosures, ownership transfers, and property restrictions. This finding coheres with qualitative court data, which demonstrates a pervasive punitive attitude in STF cases. We argue that STF inspections amount to a denial of criminal due process for residents in communities of color, punishing alleged offenders via a civil process with much more flexible procedural standards. Our analysis of punishing people through property highlights the need for expanding standards of criminal due process to civil contexts to guarantee defendants’ substantive rights.

“Is Juvenile Delinquency in Lithuania Increasing because of the Bad Influence of the West”? Punitive Attitudes of the Lithuanian Population towards Juvenile Offenders

This article aims to assess the Lithuanian population’s punitive attitudes towards juvenile delinquents, to discuss them from the perspective of authoritarianism and to connect them to Lithuania’s Communist past. This study was a cross-sectional population-based study, administered in 2021. Multistage stratified sampling techniques were used to create a representative sample of 1,508 Lithuanian residents aged eighteen years and older. A measurement of attitudes was created by the authors based on ideas about the tripartite attitude structure: measuring multiple attributes from the areas of affect (feelings towards juvenile offenders), cognition (explanations of the causes of juvenile offending), and action (measures for reduction of juvenile delinquency). The study revealed that almost half of Lithuanians hold punitive attitudes towards juvenile delinquents. These punitive attitudes correlate with negative feelings towards juvenile delinquents related to common stereotypes and inaccurate explanations of the causes of juvenile delinquency. Punitiveness was also connected with fears of “bad” Western influences, such as the perceived overvaluing of children’s rights and disapproval of violence against children and authoritarian parenting. The question “Is juvenile delinquency in Lithuania increasing because of the bad influence of the West?” divided the Lithuanian population into two almost equal groups: “Pro-Westerners” and “Anti-Westerners.” “Anti-Westerners” were more likely to hold authoritarian views, while “Anti-Western” attitudes were more prevalent among older, less-educated, and lower-income citizens.

Understanding Blame in the Context of Childhood Obesity

ABSTRACT This paper explicates blame as a psychological construct in communication processes, with a focus on its underlying structure and its mediating role between message characteristics and the public’s issue engagement. Data were collected from Amazon Mechanical Turk (N = 373) via a Web-based experiment, where we manipulated a news story about a child suffering an obesity-related health risk (asthma attack vs. heart attack) with different levels of preventability (high vs. low) and severity (high vs. low). Findings showed that blame should best be conceptualized and operationalized as a latent construct comprising both cognitive and affective components. Blame mediated message effects on social responses related to obesity prevention, including punitive attitudes, policy support, and intentions toward interpersonal communication and civic participatory behaviors.

The role of personality and the need for cognitive closure in shaping punitiveness to crime

Despite the prevailing negative reactions towards offenders, few studies have investigated the role of psychological factors in shaping punitiveness. The present study explored the effects of personality domains and the need for cognitive closure on punitive attitudes. The sample included 505 individuals (56.8 % women) from the general population in Italy. A self-report questionnaire gathered information on sociodemographic characteristics, personality domains, need for cognitive closure, and punitiveness. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that being female, having a lower level of education and conservative political views were significant predictors of punitive attitudes. Higher need for cognitive closure, extraversion, and conscientiousness and lower open-mindedness were also predictors of punitiveness. These findings underscore the importance of raising awareness of how individuals' attitudes towards crime and punishment are guided by their psychological characteristics, as how they think and feel about crime influences their perspectives on suitable responses.

(317) Lay People´s Myths Regarding Pedophilia and Child Sexual Abuse: A Systematic Review

Abstract Introduction The term “paedophilia erotica” was first coined in 1886 by the psychiatrist Krafft-Ebing and it was considered a “psycho-sexual perversion”. It was at the beginning of the twentieth century that the term “pedophilia” was adopted and it started to appear in medical dictionaries. Sexual abuse is legally defined as the engagement in sexual contact with a person below a specified age or who is incapable of giving consent. Both, pedophilia and Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) are worldwide phenomena requiring deep scientific knowledge in order to improve prevention strategies. Individuals’ misconceptions of pedophilia and CSA may legitimize sexual violence, which can influence prevention strategies and policies. Objective This review aimed to summarize existing research to help answer the question: “What are laypeople´s myths regarding pedophilia and child sexual abuse?”. Methods This systematic review followed the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses to identify as many relevant articles as possible. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EBSCOhost databases for articles published before January 2022. Sixty-one articles were included in the current review. Results Overall, findings revealed a significant number of myths regarding pedophilia and CSA, organized into the following categories: 1) blame diffusion, 2) denial of abusiveness, 3) restrictive stereotypes, 4) victim age and consequences, 5) social stigma, 6) punitive attitudes, and 7) treatment. Conclusions Findings suggested that laypeople’s perceptions should be taken into account when devising prevention policies. Additionally, perceptions should also be a target of prevention since there is evidence of social stigma and prejudice involving individuals with pedophilia. Such phenomena can contribute to social, emotional, and cognitive problems, amongst said individuals as well as causing these individuals to exhibit a higher risk for abusive behavior and less help-seeking. Disclosure No

Perceived Dangerousness Mediates Punitive Attitudes Toward Sex Offenders: Results From a Vignette Experiment

The current study used an experimental vignette ( n = 1,093) to examine the effects of perpetrator sex and age, and victim sex and age, on simulated juror sentencing recommendations for individuals convicted of sexual offenses (ICSO). Path analyses were used to see if differences in punitive attitudes could be explained by perceptions of dangerousness participants attached to experimentally manipulated variables, as hypothesized by attribution theorists. Results show that participants consistently recommended longer sentences, higher fines, and indicated greater support for post-release sanctions for male offenders, older perpetrators, and for offenders who victimized younger adolescents. Path analysis demonstrated that perceptions of dangerousness partially mediated the relationship between experimentally manipulated predictor variables and recommended sentence length, providing partial support for attribution theory.

Impact of base rate information on estimated risk of recidivism of sex offenders in Japan

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to examine the public’s estimates of recidivism risk among sex offenders and the ways those estimates are impacted by base rate information. Participants were 400 individuals (200 males and 200 females) in Japan recruited by a web-based research company. Each participant was allocated to either the experimental group with or the control group without base rate recidivism information and asked to estimate the recidivism rate of a sex offender after release from prison. The results show that the average estimated recidivism rates were 54.4% and 33.8% in the control and experimental groups, respectively, indicating a significant difference (Welch’s t (389.70) = 8.32, p < .001, Cohen’s d = .83). However, even the experimental group’s average estimated rate was much higher than the actual national base rate of 17.0%. Multiple regression analysis revealed that punitive attitudes toward crime and confidence in estimation significantly contributed to higher estimates of recidivism risk, whereas sex, age, and fear of crime did not. These results suggest that the public overestimates the recidivism rate of sex offenders and that simply presenting a base rate is not sufficient for risk communication. Practical implications and future research directions are also discussed.