ASSESSING PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR 3-STRIKES-AND-YOURE-OUT LAWS - GLOBAL VERSUS SPECIFIC ATTITUDES

In the recent movement to pass ''three-strikes-and-you're-out'' laws, policymakers often cite opinion polls that ostensibly show widespread public support for these initiatives. Our community survey, however re veals that support for three-strikes laws is high when citizens are as ked broad single-item questions, but diminishes greatly when citizens are presented with specific situations covered under the law. Further; the public appears willing to make exceptions to three-strikes laws. Taken together; these findings suggest that citizens would endorse thr ee-strikes policies that focus on only the most serious offenders and that allow for flexible application.