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Fear and punishment in Sweden

Exploring penal attitudes

University of Gothenburg, Sweden

Ann Towns

University of Gothenburg, Sweden

Göran Duus-Otterström

University of Gothenburg, Sweden

Joakim Sebring

University of Gothenburg, Sweden

Sweden is often portrayed as a hold out from `penal populism', with a comparatively non-punitive population that prefers preventive and non-custodial sanctions to imprisonment. But while the Swedish public is still less punitive than many others, there is evidence that it has become more punitive, and less content with Swedish penal practice, over time. Trying to add to the understanding of the causes of toughening penal attitudes, we proceed to investigate the importance of media consumption for Swedish penal attitudes. We find a correlation between tabloid consumption and punitiveness. We end by a speculation that locates this finding in the wider context of an individualized, victim-centred discourse of crime.

Key Words: crime policy • individualization • media • sentencing attitudes • victimization

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