Citation

Cullen FT, Cullen JB, Wozniak JF. J. Crim. Justice 1988; 16(4): 303-317.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1988, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0047-2352(88)90018-9

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

After a decade of empirical and ideological attacks on treatment philosophy and in light of a 'get tough' movement that has sponsored harsh renovations of criminal codes, a number of commentators have been moved to ask, Is rehabilitation dead? The present study attempted to assess whether treatment has in fact been sufficiently tarnished that it no longer constitutes a viable rationale for criminal sanctioning. Based on a survey of an Illinois community, the analysis revealed that, although support for punitive justifications is widespread, rehabilitation continues to retain substantial legitimacy. This conclusion was reinforced by data from polls conducted in other states and on national samples. Finally, the authors argue that the existence of a 'punitive public' is a myth that functions to limit the policy alternatives that state officials see as politically feasible.