RT Article
T1 A meta-analysis of public attitudes toward ex-offenders
JF Criminal justice and behavior
VO 43
IS 9
SP 1260
OP 1280
A1 Rade, Candalyn B.
A2 Desmarais, Sarah L.
A2 Mitchell, Roger E.
LA English
YR 2016
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1884891179
AB Ex-offenders face barriers to community reintegration including negative attitudes held by members of the public. This meta-analysis summarizes the extant research on the correlates of public attitudes toward ex-offenders?namely, public, ex-offender, and community characteristics?and the moderating effects of sexual offense history. A systematic search of four databases (PsycINFO, Web of Science, National Criminal Justice Reference Service [NCJRS], and ProQuest Dissertation & Theses) identified 19 records, consisting of 9,355 participants. Results revealed small associations between correlate variables and attitudes, suggesting that people are more similar than different in their attitudes toward ex-offenders. Indeed, only political ideology, interpersonal contact, and sexual offense history emerged as significant correlates. Moderation analyses revealed differences in public attitudes toward ex-offenders based upon the year a record was produced. Findings reveal the need for additional research examining moderators of public attitudes toward ex-offenders and suggest that interventions should explore ways to incorporate interpersonal contact and reduce stigma related to criminal histories.
K1 ex-offender
K1 Meta-analysis
K1 Public attitudes
K1 Public Opinion
K1 Stigma
DO 10.1177/0093854816655837