Public Support for Universal Second Look Sentencing

• In Event: Poster Session II

Abstract

Washington, DC has led the way in “Second Look” sentencing, in which those sentenced when under 25 for a serious crime are given a “second look” after 15 years behind bars to see if they merit judicial review and early release from prison. DC has proposed to make Second Look sentencing universal—that is, a measure available to all offenders regardless of the age at which a crime was committed. Based on experiments embedded within a survey of a national-level sample, the current project extends past research showing support for Second Look sentencing for young adults by assessing whether the public endorses this new reform. At issue is whether support is contingent upon a crime being committed at an early age (thus limiting culpability) or is rooted in offenders “signaling” through accomplishments that they have “become a different person” and warrant the chance at redemption.

Authors

• Kellie Hannan, University of Cincinnati

• Paula Smith, Center for Justice and Communities, University of Cincinnati

• Francis T. Cullen, University of Cincinnati

• Justin Pickett, SUNY Albany

• Cheryl Lero Jonson, Xavier University

• Amanda Graham, Georgia Southern University

• Amanda Pompoco, Center for Justice and Communities, University of Cincinnati