Is the Public more Punitive than the Criminal Courts: A Case Study from Iceland

• In Event: Victim, suspects and public perception about justice

Abstract

Attitudes toward crime and punishment are frequently debated in Iceland. Public discourse often includes claims that punishments are too lenient and offenders face insufficient consequences for their actions. In modern democratic societies, it is crucial for court sentencing and control practices to reflect the public’s sense of justice. Failure to do so risks undermining the legitimacy of the criminal justice system. Therefore, understanding public opinion on this matter is essential and requires comprehensive study.
This paper presentation is part of a Nordic collaborative research project on crime and punishment. In this talk we focus on one part of the project: survey results adapted from a similar questionnaire placed earlier in Norway. The questionnaire explores general attitudes toward punishment, including views on non-custodial sanctions such as community service and electronic monitoring. Additionally, exploring perceptions of punishment goals and attitudes toward specific crimes, such as rape and possession of cannabis for personal use.
The central question is whether the public’s sense of justice in Iceland aligns with current crime control practices.
The survey was conducted by the Social Sciences Research Institute in the spring of 2024. Data was collected through an online survey with a nationally representative sample of 2,500 individuals aged 18 and older. The response rate was 42 percent, and the responses were weighted to accurately reflect the demographic composition of Iceland's adult population.
The results indicate that a majority of respondents believe punishments are too lenient, with more than half supporting longer prison sentences. However, the vast majority also emphasizes that the primary objective of punishment should be assisting offenders in avoiding future crimes. Furthermore, most respondents expressed positive attitudes toward alternatives to prison for specific offenses. These findings suggest caution when interpreting claims that the public is more punitive than the courts.

Author

• Helgi Gunnlaugsson, University of Iceland