TOUGH LAWS - POLICY-MAKER PERCEPTIONS AND COMMITMENT

Surveys were administered to assess policymaker perceptions on the eff ectiveness and consequences of, and their commitment to ''tough'' crim inal legislation in California. In relation to this, policymaker react ion to California's 1982 DUI laws was assessed. Results suggest that t he populations surveyed recognized that problems were created by ''tou gh'' laws, specifically jail crowding. Differences existed, however, b etween the various populations on the perceptions of the effectiveness of such law changes and their commitment to them. Policy implications drawn from this research are discussed.