Examining Criminology Majors’ and Non‐Majors’ Attitudes Toward Inmate Programs, Services, and Amenities

Abstract

Within the last decade, state departments of correction have been eliminating or reducing the number of programs, services, and amenities for inmates. Current research has shown that the majority of society favor keeping many of these inmate programs. However, studies of criminology majors’ and non‐majors’ attitudes toward inmate programs, services, and amenities are scant in the social science literature. Using data gathered from 553 college students from a mid‐sized Southern state university, we assess students’ attitudes toward 26 inmate programs, services, and amenities for minimum and maximum security inmates. Statistically significant attitudinal differences between minimum and maximum security inmates’ access to 21 of the inmate programs, services, and amenities were found when examining the entire sample. However, MANOVA results indicated that criminology majors and non‐majors held similar attitudes toward minimum and maximum security inmates’ access to inmate programs, services, and amenities.

Keywords:

• College Students’ Attitudes
• Criminology Students’ Attitudes
• Inmate Amenities

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Christopher Hensley

Christopher Hensley is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He received his doctorate from Mississippi State University. His most recent publications appear in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Criminal Justice Studies, and the International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology. His research interests include prison sexuality, attitudes toward correctional issues, and animal cruelty.

Mary Koscheski

Mary Koscheski is a Criminal Justice instructor at Pulaski Technical College. She received her master’s degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminology from Morehead State University.

Richard Tewksbury

Richard Tewksbury is a Professor of Justice Administration at the University of Louisville. He holds a doctorate in Sociology from Ohio State University. His research interests include correctional institutional culture and programming, men’s studies, and issues of sex and gender identity.