Legislator Ideology and Corrections and Sentencing Policy in Florida

Abstract

Crime and sentencing are key issues confronting policy makers. Overcrowding and escalating corrections budgets have brought increased public attention on the criminal justice system. In light of this increased focus, it is important to examine what issues concern policy makers in corrections and sentencing policy decisions. The purpose of this research is to explore how Florida legislators consider crime causation, crime control, and support for rehabilitation when deciding on corrections and sentencing policy. This study also offers an initial and exploratory glance into whether policy makers consider inmate behavior and public fear when making policy decisions. Findings suggest that legislators in Florida support imprisonment as well as rehabilitation, believe in using policy to control inmate behavior, and hesitate to alter public policy toward more leniency even if public fear decreases.

Don't help victims of crime if you don't have the time: Assessing support for Good Samaritan laws

“…Other criminologists have noted how policy makers' belief systems influence lawmaking (Cook and Lane, 2009). In this context, it is possible that life histories of policy makers are such that they are less supportive of laws requiring individuals to help.…”

Criminological Explanations, Race, and Biological Attributions of Crime as Predictors of Philadelphia Area Residents’ Support for Criminal Justice Policies

“…More recent research, however, demonstrates that the public prefers both progressive and punitive policies (Cullen et al, 2007). Although legislators typically support punitive policies over progressive ones (Cook & Lane, 2009b), public opinion on the matter is more nuanced (Cullen et al, 2007; Roberts, 2004). The American public strongly believes, for example, that the government should play a role in addressing environmental factors that contribute to crime (Cullen et al, 2007; Ramirez, 2013).…”

State correctional policy survey: what state correctional departments say they do

“…On the one hand, attitudes of legislators are believed to play an important role in affecting penal practices since legislators craft the laws that directly impact penal practices including the length and type of sentencing, minimum sentences, and the structure of criminal law itself (i.e., the kinds of behaviors that can be penalized through correctional responses; Flanagan et al 1989). Legislator attitudes may also affect penal practices through legislative initiatives that create new penal responses and through the funding of penal initiatives and practices (Cook and Lane 2009). On the other hand, many studies of correctional policies are undertaken in nations with representative democracies.…”

“…The literature on public attitudes tends to show that the public supports rehabilitation, while at the same time a significant portion of the public also expresses support for punishment (Cullen et al 2000). Some research suggests, however, that legislators tend to ignore changes in public attitudes that include, for example, a decline in the fear of crime (Cook and Lane 2009). Much research notes that public officials over-estimate punitiveness among the general public (Roberts andStalans 1997, Cullen et al 2002) and that these officials also tend to engage in 'populist punitiveness' (Roberts et al 2003) -that is, promoting punitive penal policies by taking advantage of public anxiety about crime.…”