Title

Attitudes about rehabilitating sex offenders: Demographic, victimization, and community-level influences

Authors

Authors

B. K. Payne; R. Tewksbury;E. E. Mustaine

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

J. Crim. Justice

Keywords

SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION; COLLEGE-STUDENTS; PUBLIC-OPINION; UNITED-STATES; DEATH-PENALTY; PUNISHMENT; PERCEPTIONS; SUPPORT; RISK; CRIME; Criminology & Penology

Abstract

In this study, attention was given to how demographic, victimization, and community-level factors contribute to the belief that sex offenders can be rehabilitated. A survey was conducted with 746 residents of Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Virginia. A vast majority of the sample thought it was impossible to rehabilitate sex offenders, and a sizeable proportion of respondents indicated that they did not know whether sex offenders could be rehabilitated. Results showed that very few factors predicted attitudes about rehabilitating sex offenders. The implications call for expanded efforts to educate the public about sex offenders, as well as strategies for strengthening support for rehabilitation. In particular, it is argued that more attention should be given to identifying the punitive aspects of rehabilitation and increasing awareness about treatment strategies among policymakers. The authors also call for reconceptualizing rehabilitation so the concept is driven by practical matters rather than politics. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Journal Title

Journal of Criminal Justice

Volume

38

Issue/Number

4

Publication Date

1-1-2010

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

580

Last Page

588

WOS Identifier

WOS:000280436000030

ISSN

0047-2352

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