Over the past several decades, California has experimented with a variety of sentencing policies to reduce crime. Most of those reforms have emphasized punishment rather than rehabilitation. Survey data reported in this publication suggest that the state's public is looking for a reconsideration of these policies

Barry Krisberg

Jessie Craine

Susan Marchionna

English

IssueLab

June 2004NCCD FOCUSViews from the National Council on Crime and DelinquencyAttitudes of Californians towardEffective Correctional PoliciesBarry Krisberg, Ph.D.Jessica CraineSusan MarchionnaFindings in Brief• Almost 59% of Californians polled believe that theexperience of incarceration is a major factor inrecidivism. Only 29% believe that “once a criminal,always a criminal” is a major factor in recidivism.• Of those polled, 67% believe that a lack of life skills isa major factor in recidivism; another 19% believe it tobe a minor factor. Only 11% believe that a lack of lifeskills is not a factor in recidivism.• Of likely voters, 73% would vote for Proposition 36today. Prop 36 changed state law to require probationand drug treatment, instead of prison time, for thepossession and use (not manufacture or sale) of illegaldrugs. Prop 36 was passed by 61% of Californiavoters in November of 2000.• Well over half of Californians surveyed (56%) thinkthat rehabilitating and educating offenders outside ofprison would reduce the state’s crime problem. Whena similar question was asked in 1982, only 35% ofCalifornians agreed [Field Research Corporation (1982). ADigest on How the California Public Views a Variety of MattersRelating to Crime. Author].The poll questions all  related to inmates that committedproperty crimes or drug-related offenses.• By almost an 8 to 1 margin (63% to 8%), Californiansfavor using state funds to rehabilitate prisoners bothduring incarceration and after their release from prisonas opposed to punishment only. Current California lawmandates that the primary purpose of incarceration ispunishment. Small margins favor services in prisononly (13%) or post-release only (11%).• Of the 63% mentioned above, there are someideological differences. However, even 47% ofpolitical conservatives support the rehabilitation model.In geographic regions that are typically conservative,Orange County and the Central Valley, there is majorsupport for rehabilitation services to inmates (60% and64%, respectively).• By almost 2 to 1 (45% vs. 24%), Californians believethat  providing rehabilitation services to inmates bothwhile they are serving time and after they have beenreleased would be the least costly to the state in thelong run. Small margins favor services in prison only(16%) or post-release only (8%).• By more than a 2 to 1 margin (34% to 14%),Californians think that inmates that have served theirsentences return to society more likely versus lesslikely to commit future crimes. Respondents answeredsimilarly despite differences of economic status,gender, ethnicity, and political persuasion.Views from the National Council on Crime and Delinquency June 200434%41%14%11%More likelyAbout the sameLess likelyDon't know8%13%11%63%5% PunishmentServices in prisonServices after prisonServices in and outof prisonDon’t Know2QuestionsQ: Generally speaking, do you think that the inmates whohave served their time and are released back into societytoday are more likely, about the same, or less likely thanthey were before their imprisonment to commit futurecrimes?Q: Following are four alternative prison policies thatCalifornia’s prison system could follow for people whohave committed property crimes or drug-related offenses.Which would you prefer the state implement?Only 14% of the total respondents thought thatprisoners are less likely (vs. more likely or the same) tocommit future crimes after serving their time and beingreleased from prison. Over 40% of those polled thoughtthat inmates returning to society were just as likely tocommit more crime as they were when they enteredprison, and 34% thought that after prison, inmates aremore likely to commit future crime. Respondentsanswered similarly despite differences of economic status,gender, ethnicity, and political persuasion.Californians clearly (almost 8 to 1) favor using statefunds for rehabilitation over a system that only punishesinmates for drug and property offenses. Merely 8% favorpunishment only, while 63% favor rehabilitation bothduring prison time and after release. Some prefereducation and rehabilitation only during detention (13%)and some only post-release (11%). A small number (5%)are uncertain.• Treat prison as punishment, and do not offerrehabilitation services to inmates either during their timein prison or after their release.• Make state-funded rehabilitation services available toinmates only while they are serving time in prison.• Make state-funded rehabilitation services available toinmates only after they have been released fromprison.• Make state-funded rehabilitation services available toinmates both while they are serving time and after theyhave been released from prison.Even areas that are typically conservative, whoseresidents have in the past opposed such measures, noware largely in support of a rehabilitation model.01020304050607080LosAngelesOrangeCountyBay Area CentralValleyPunishment onlyServices in and out ofprisonDon’t KnowViews from the National Council on Crime and DelinquencyJune 2004 3Q: Which of these four alternative policies do you thinkwould cost the state of California the least in the long run?24%16%8%45%7% PunishmentServices in prisonServices after prisonServices in and outof prisonDon’t KnowBy a margin of almost 2 to 1 (45% to 24%),Californians believe that rehabilitating and educatingoffenders both during their incarceration and after theirrelease from prison would be least costly to the state inthe long run. Others favored a smaller scope—services inprison only (16%) and post-release only (8%).Of those polled, 66% believe that a lack of life skills is amajor factor in recidivism; another 19% believe it to be aminor factor. Only 11% believe that a lack of life skills is nota factor in recidivism.Q: “When they leave prison, inmates have no morelife skills than they had before they entered prison.” Inyour opinion, is this a major factor, a minor factor, or notat all a factor in the high rate of inmates who return toprison today?Only 29% of respondents thought that criminality is irreparable and a major factor inrecidivism, while another 29% thought it a minor factor, and 38% thought it not at all afactor. In addition, 59% believe that the experience of being in prison is a major factor insubsequent offending and returning to prison, while another 27% consider it a minor factor,and only 10% think that it is not at all a factor.66%19%11%4%Major FactorMinor FactorNot a FactorDon't Know29%38%29%4%Major FactorMinor FactorNot a FactorDon’t Know 59%27%10%4%Major FactorMinor FactorNot a FactorDon't KnowQ: “Once a criminal, always a criminal” In youropinion, is this a major factor, a minor factor, or not at alla factor in the high rate of inmates who return to prisontoday?Q: “The experience of prison reinforces criminalbehavior.” In your opinion, is this a major factor, a minorfactor, or not at all a factor in the high rate of inmates whoreturn to prison today?Views from the National Council on Crime and Delinquency June 20044Q: Do you agree or disagree with the followingstatement: “The crime problem would be reduced iffewer offenders were sent to prison and instead werere-educated and rehabilitated out of prison.”A total of 56% of respondents agree that educationand rehabilitation would help reduce California’s crimeproblem. When a similar question was asked by the FieldResearch Corporation in 1982, only 35% of Californiansagreed.0%10%20%30%40%50%60%Agree Disagree Don't KnowSummaryOver the past several decades, California has experimented with a variety of sentencing policies to reduce crime.Most of those reforms have emphasized increasing punishment. These survey data suggest that the state’s public islooking for a reconsideration of these policies. Californians are now saying that punishment alone does not deter crimeand that they favor a correctional system that includes rehabilitation as a core operating principle.Q: In the November 2000 general election, Californiavoters approved Proposition 36, which changed statelaws to require probation and drug treatment, rather thanprison terms, for persons convicted of possessing or usingillegal drugs. The new law does not apply to thoseconvicted of the sale and manufacturing of illegal drugs,who could still be sentenced to prison terms. IfProposition 36 were being voted on again this year,would you be inclined to vote YES or NO?Of likely voters, 73%  would vote for Proposition 36today. Prop 36 was passed by 61% of California voters inNovember of 2000.0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%YESNODon't KnowThe information in this report is a result of a survey conducted by the Field Research Corporation in May of 2004 andsponsored by NCCD, a nearly 100-year old  research organization. The questions all related to inmates that committed propertycrimes or drug-related offenses. Field polled a representative sample of 1003 adults (18 or older) living in California about theirattitudes toward criminal punishment and rehabilitation. The poll used a random sampling method with an error range of +/- 3.2percentage points. All percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole number. This project was made possible by agenerous grant from the Roney Family Foundation.

Attitudes of Californians Toward Effective Correctional Policies (FOCUS)

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Attitudes of Californians Toward Effective Correctional Policies (FOCUS)

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