About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline

LOG IN
LOG IN


20 J. Experimental Criminology 1 (2024)

handle is hein.journals/jexpcrm20 and id is 1 raw text is: Journal of Experimental Criminology (2024) 20:1-22 https://doi.org/10.1007/si1292-022-09523-z Is compassion the flip side of punitiveness? Incorporating COVID-19 crisis in experimental vignettes to examine support for visitation and vaccination in prison Audrey Hickert' - Luzi Shi2 - Jason R. Silver3 Accepted: 10 June 2022 / Published online: 30 June 2022 ŠThe Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2022 Abstract Objectives The public hold both punitive and pragmatic attitudes toward prison pol- icy. Yet it is unclear whether the public supports compassionate efforts that do not directly relate to recidivism. This study explores the role of exclusionary symbolic aims (prioritizing non-prisoner groups), inclusionary symbolic aims (minimizing health risk for the vulnerable), and cost (taxes). Methods Using a quota-based national sample fielded in spring 2021 (N=1260), we embedded two experimental vignettes to assess support for vaccination priorities and personal protective equipment (PPE) for in-person visitation. We also examine respondent experiences (e.g., exposure to COVID-19, vaccine status, personal or vicarious arrest) and beliefs (e.g., political ideology, racial resentment, stigma). Results Consistent with dominant exclusionary symbolic aims, respondents showed strong preferences for non-prisoner groups in facilitating safe in-person visits (in long-term care facilities) and vaccine priorities (to prison guards). Inclusionary symbolic aims were less clear when examining risk from vaccine side effects or helping vulnerable populations (the elderly). High cost reduced support for compas- sionate policy. Conclusions Public support for policies aimed at maintaining the health of indi- viduals who are incarcerated may be motivated by similar factors as punishment preferences. Keywords Public opinion - Punitiveness - Survey experiment - COVID-19 - Prisons E Audrey Hickert audrey.hickert@siu.edu Criminology and Criminal Justice, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, USA 2 Criminal Justice, Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, USA 3 Criminal Justice, Rutgers University-Newark, Newark, USA Springer