Title
Attitudes about rehabilitating sex offenders: Demographic, victimization, and community-level influences
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
ISSN
0047-2352
Recommended Citation
"Attitudes about rehabilitating sex offenders: Demographic, victimization, and community-level influences" (2010). Faculty Bibliography 2010s. 635.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/facultybib2010/635
Comments
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