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

    Authors

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

    Comments

    Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

    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

    Share

    COinS