NCJ Number
49449
Date Published
1977
Length
76 pages
Annotation
THE USE OF SYSTEMATIC INFORMATION DISSEMINATION TO INFLUENCE SOCIETAL ATTITUDES TOWARDS DIVERGENT GROUPS IS DISCUSSED IN RELATION TO THE POTENTIAL FOR CHANGING NEGATIVE ATTITUDES TOWARDS PRISON RELEASEES.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE EMPIRICAL RESEARCH IN SWEDEN ON THE EFFECTS OF INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS ON PUBLIC ATTITUDES, THIS TACTIC HAS BEEN USED, PARTICULARLY FOR REDUCING FEAR, SUSPICION, AND DISLIKE OF IMMIGRANT GROUPS AMONG SWEDISH CITIZENS. VARIOUS MODELS FOR DESIGNING AND DISTRIBUTING INFLUENTIAL PUBLIC INFORMATION ARE DISCUSSED. THESE MODELS HAVE BEEN USED BY THE ORGANIZATION FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AID TO INFLUENCE ATTITUDES ABOUT THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES AND BY TWO PUBLIC SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS TO INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSERS. THE REPORT CONCLUDES THAT SELECTIVE AND SYSTEMATIC INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION COULD BE USED TO CHANGE NEGATIVE ATTITUDES TOWARDS PRISON RELEASEES AND PAROLEES, BUT THAT THE INFORMATION SHOULD INCLUDE GENERAL MATERIAL ON THE MEANING AND EFFECTS OF SOCIAL HANDICAPS AND CRIME AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AS WELL AS SPECIAL MATERIAL ON RECIDIVISM AND EX-OFFENDERS' SOCIAL HANDICAPS. THE INFORMATION COULD BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH SEVERAL SOURCES INCLUDING SCHOOLS, POLITICAL PARTIES, MASS MEDIA, AND UNIONS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. -- IN SWEDISH. (DAG)