Attitudes Regarding the Compassionate Release of Terminally Ill Offenders

Abstract

Compassionate release, or medical parole, allows the early release of terminally ill offenders so that they may spend time with loved ones. Such programs have received little attention from psychological researchers. This study examines attitudes of undergraduate students toward compassionate release and factors that affect these attitudes. A total of 163 participants completed questionnaires regarding attitudes toward compassionate release, attitudes toward prisoners, and fear of AIDS. Results indicate that undergraduate students have negative attitudes toward compassionate release of offenders and toward prisoners, in general, with negative attitudes toward prisoners significantly associated with negative attitudes toward compassionate release. Fear of AIDS, however, was not associated with negative attitudes toward compassionate release, as was expected. Results suggest that negative attitudes toward compassionate release and prisoners may be an obstacle to the implementation of medical parole policies. Research examining attitudes in a broader community sample is needed.