PREDICTING PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR ELECTRONIC HOUSE ARREST - RESULTS FROM A NEW-YORK COUNTY SURVEY

This article builds upon an earlier effort to examine citizens' overal l support for electronic house arrest (EHA). It explores a variety of demographic and attitudinal factors measured ina survey of residents i n Oneida County, New York, and identifies predictors of support for EH A when used with ''minor'' and ''serious'' offenders. Survey findings indicate that those who Savor the use of EHA with minor offenders have limited faith in the ability of incarceration to reduce crime and vie w EHA as a cost-effective way of punishing offenders. Those who favor its use with serious offenders tend to be non-White and older and beli eve that incarceration leads to recidivism Nevertheless, both groups f eel that EIIA should also be rehabilitative. The article concludes by discussing the policy implications of this research; particularly the need for correctional decision makers to examine public perceptions wh en considering the implementation of community corrections programs.