Citation

Sprott JB. J. Crim. Justice 1999; 27(5): 467-474.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S0047-2352(99)00017-3

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study challenged the view that public punitiveness is a simple, one-dimensional concept that can be assessed through a broad measure such as support for increasing the severity of sentences. Gender was used as a lens through which discrepancies between responses to broad questions (support for increasing sentences) and case-specific questions were examined. Results revealed that different factors were important in predicting responses to broad questions and case-specific questions. In addition, the research finding that women are less punitive than men was challenged. Results revealed that women were less punitive than men only when focusing on young offenders. Assessing punitiveness through simple measures such as support for generally increasing sentences obscures the complexity with which members of the public view criminal justice issues.