Politics in Policy: An Experimental Examination of Public Views Regarding Sentence Reductions via Second Chance Mechanisms

• In Event: Public Opinion and Decision-Making in the Context of Courts and Sentencing

Abstract

This research examines how the cost of incarceration to the state and type of offense affects public support for different levels of sentence reductions (10%, 25%, 50%) via policies that reduce incarcerated populations called “second chance” mechanisms, as well as whether political ideology or affiliation predicts such support. Across different sentence reductions, participants were expected to show significantly decreased support for the use of second chance mechanisms for violent compared to nonviolent crimes but also show significantly increased support when exposed to cost information to the state, compared to not receiving that information. Additionally, political ideology and affiliation were expected to moderate support across different sentence reductions. A 6 (offense type) x 2 (cost of incarceration to the state) experiment with a national sample of the U.S. public (N = 419) was used to assess support for using second chance mechanisms to achieve different sentence reductions. Moderation analyses found that crime type and political ideology, but not fiscal costs, appear in some way to bear on public support for sentence reductions via second chance mechanisms. Overall, evidence suggests that public support presents an opportunity to advance reforms that reduce incarcerated populations and enhance public perceptions of the justice system's legitimacy.

Authors

• Isabella Polito, Rutgers University School of Criminal Justice

• Colleen Berryessa, Rutgers University