Give Them a Chance: Public Attitudes to Sentencing Young Offenders in Western Australia. (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ellis, Suzanne; Gately, Natalie; Rogers, Shane; Horrigan, Andrée
• Is Part Of: Youth justice. Volume 18:Number 2(2018:Aug.)
• Page Start: 169
• Page End: 187
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: principles of sentencing -- public attitudes -- sentencing -- young offenders -- youth justice; Juvenile justice, Administration of -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Youth -- Legal status, laws, etc -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Juvenile corrections -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 364.360941
• DOI: 10.1177/1473225418791660
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1473-2254

Abstract

Public opinion is often reported as punitive towards sentencing young people. Attitudes remain important to investigate given their potential to influence policy within the criminal justice system. Therefore, it is important to understand the formation of these attitudes and their consistency with sentencing principles. Semi-structured interviews ( n = 72) and surveys ( n = 502) were used to gauge opinions of sentencing young people under different scenario manipulations (age, weapon, drug treatment, prior record). The findings revealed the public expected punishment, but favoured rehabilitation with an opportunity to repent, suggesting the public are open to alternatives to 'tough on crime' approaches.