Perceptions of criminal policy, crime and crime prevention

It is essential for the criminal justice system and its overall effectiveness that its basic principles are shared not only by those directly responsible for its operation, but also by the general public. It is therefore important to look at views and attitudes towards different types of sanctions, programmes or other crime reduction measures, together with an interest in how the issue is reported in the media. This is where most citizens get their ideas about crime and penal policy.