Punitive Desire, Belief in Redeemability, and Support for Rehabilitation: A Comparison of Victimized and Non-Victimized Individuals' Attitudes Toward Criminal Offenders

Author

Caleb Linder, CUNY John Jay CollegeFollow

Date of Award

Spring 6-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department/Program

Forensic Psychology

Language

English

First Advisor or Mentor

Cynthia Calkins

Second Reader

Elizabeth Jeglic

Third Advisor

Mark Fondacaro

Abstract

This study examined the attitudes of victimized and non-victimized individuals toward criminal offenders, investigating whether the supportive attitudes observed in Spoo et al. (2018) extend beyond sexual offenses to other types of crime. The study also explored how the perpetrator’s relationship to the victim (family member vs. stranger) and participants’ previous exposure to the justice system influenced their perceptions of offenders. Contrary to our hypothesis, punitive attitudes did not differ between participants with a history of victimization and those without. Additionally, there was no significant difference in punitive attitudes toward stranger offenders compared to offenders known to the victim. Furthermore, contrary to expectations, prior exposure to the justice system or incarceration did not significantly affect attitudes toward offenders. Undergraduate students from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and community participants recruited via Prolific participated in the study, reporting their history of victimization and justice system exposure before reading two criminal offense scenarios. Afterward, they completed measures assessing beliefs in offender redeemability, dispositional attributions, support for rehabilitation, general punitiveness, and perceptions of sex offenders. By exploring these factors, the study aimed to provide a deeper understanding of public and victim attitudes and their potential implications for public policy. Previous research suggests that public opinion has a significant impact on public policy, with policymakers often influenced by public pressure when creating crime legislation (Meloy et al., 2013).

Recommended Citation

Linder, Caleb, "Punitive Desire, Belief in Redeemability, and Support for Rehabilitation: A Comparison of Victimized and Non-Victimized Individuals' Attitudes Toward Criminal Offenders" (2025). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/jj_etds/342