Public Opinion on Crime: Message Framing and Deliberative Democracy for a Progressive Consensus

Examining the inter-relationship between political rhetoric, reactionary governments and discriminatory ideologies, this book offers a fuller account of how our views on crime are formed.

From media headlines to community groups on social media, fear of crime permeates society. At its worst, societal anxiety manifests in public demands for ever harsher approaches to punishment, or the weaponizing of crime by exploitative political leaders. In either case, societies are often distracted from the real factors behind crime; poverty, hardship, abuse and lack of opportunity. Many researchers and policy makers recognise this harmful spiral, but struggle to answer the question: How do we create the conditions for better public debates on crime? This book explores public opinion theories highlighting a degraded civic and media debate on crime. As an antidote, the author presents evidence on how to hold better public conversations; using facts, emotion and message framing capable of shifting punitive attitudes towards a progressive consensus. It offers a unique perspective on the kinds of democratic changes needed, as well as new insight into the arguments people need to hear when discussing crime and justice. With major international elections being preoccupied with fear of crime, this contemporary analysis comes at a very important time and presents a roadmap to a fairer society and justice system.

Public Opinion on Crime will be of value to policy makers, students, third sector leaders and academics working on criminal justice reform. It will also appeal to practitioners involved in community services that are seeking public consent for work or those leading public consultations on behalf of public authorities at local and national level.