How voluntary sector organisations can influence Public Opinion on Crime: what the evidence tells us
How voluntary sector organisations can influence Public Opinion on Crime: what the evidence tells us
Part of the “A matter of fact: what the evidence tells us” series.
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Public debate on crime is often shaped by fear, misinformation and polarising political rhetoric, leading to widespread support for punitive approaches that evidence shows are frequently ineffective. Yet research consistently demonstrates that public attitudes are more nuanced, malleable and open to change than headlines suggest.
To accompany a new evidence review by Dr Tom McNeil (The JABBS Foundation for Women and Girls), this event will explore what the academic evidence tells us about how voluntary sector organisations can meaningfully influence public opinion on crime and build support for prevention, rehabilitation and justice reform.
Drawing on criminology, political psychology, media studies and deliberative democracy research, the session will cover:
- How and why punitive attitudes towards crime develop
- The role of media and political framing in shaping public perceptions
- Why public opinion on crime is often contradictory rather than uniformly punitive
- What works when communicating evidence about prevention and rehabilitation
- The importance of combining facts, cost-benefit analysis and lived experience
- How deliberative approaches can lead to more informed and progressive public attitudes
- Emerging opportunities and risks around using digital tools and AI to enhance public engagement
The evidence review has been written by Dr Tom McNeil, a charity law specialist and criminal justice expert, and draws on his original research into message framing and deliberative democracy, alongside a wide-ranging review of the academic literature.
Read the full review here:
How the Voluntary Sector Can Shift Public Opinion on Crime: A Review of the Evidence
Join us for this timely conversation as we explore what the evidence tells us about changing the public conversation on crime — and how voluntary sector organisations can play a leading role in shaping a more informed, balanced and effective debate.
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