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. 2022;18(4):783-824.
doi: 10.1007/s11292-021-09466-x. Epub 2021 Apr 28.

A tale of "second chances": an experimental examination of popular support for early release mechanisms that reconsider long-term prison sentences

Colleen M Berryessa  1
Affiliations

A tale of "second chances": an experimental examination of popular support for early release mechanisms that reconsider long-term prison sentences

Colleen M Berryessa. J Exp Criminol. 2022.

Abstract

Objectives: This study examines US popular support for mechanisms that provide early release and "second chances" for individuals serving long-term prison sentences.

Methods: An experiment using a national sample of US adults (N=836).

Results: Data showed moderate, consistent levels of general support for using a range of commonly available "second chance" mechanisms that also extended to offenders convicted of both violent and non-violent offenses. Levels of support significantly varied by race, gender, and age. There was significantly more support for using certain mechanisms in response to the trafficking of serious drugs, which was fully mediated by participants' views on the importance of the cost of incarceration.

Conclusions: Members of the public appear open and supportive to utilizing "second chance" mechanisms in a variety of contexts. Yet the cost of incarceration to taxpayers appears to particularly motivate increased public interest in using such mechanisms for offenders convicted of the trafficking of serious drugs.

Keywords: Early release; Incarceration; Public attitudes; Second chances; Sentencing.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Mediation pathway: main effect of trafficking of serious drugs on participant support for elimination of parole revocations for technical violations as mediated by the importance of the offender’s original prison sentence being too costly and wasting taxpayer dollars
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Mediation pathway: main effect of trafficking of serious drugs on participant support for “second look” sentencing as mediated by ratings on the importance of the offender’s original prison sentence being too costly and wasting taxpayer dollars
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Mediation pathway: main effect of trafficking of serious drugs on participant support for granting of good time as mediated by the importance of the offender’s original prison sentence being too costly and wasting taxpayer dollars
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Mediation pathway: main effect of trafficking of serious drugs on participant support for retroactive application of sentence reduction reforms as mediated by the importance of the offender’s original prison sentence being too costly and wasting taxpayer dollars
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