NCJ Number
202897
Journal
American Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 27 Issue: 2 Dated: Spring 2003 Pages: 249-262
Date Published
2003
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study compared the attitudes of criminal justice students with those of non-criminal justice students regarding inmate privileges.
Abstract
Although previous research has examined student attitudes toward law enforcement issues, police professionalism, and the death penalty, none have addressed student perceptions of inmate privileges. Moreover, few studies have examined attitudinal differences between criminal justice majors and non-criminal justice students regarding these issues. As such, this article collected data concerning student attitudes toward inmate privileges from 570 students enrolled at 4 different universities in 3 Southern States. Attitudes were measured toward inmate psychological counseling, college education programs, television, cigarettes, weight-lifting, and conjugal visits. Results of statistical analysis reveal no significant differences in attitudes toward inmate privileges between criminal justice majors and non-majors. Both groups show support for the functional privileges of psychological counseling and college education programs, but lower levels of support for the more “luxury” type privileges of weight-lifting, smoking, conjugal visits, and watching television. The findings are consistent with recent examinations of societal perceptions of inmate privileges. Tables, references