Early prisoner release due to COVID-19: Can people’s opinions be changed?

Abstract

Due to high rates of infection and contagion of the COVID-19 virus in Canadian prisons, the Parole Board of Canada implemented new guidelines to facilitate the early release of low-risk prisoners to limit the spread of novel coronavirus. This study examines Canadians’ opinions regarding the early release of prisoners from correctional institutions due to COVID-19 and seeks to discover if psychoeducational intervention can positively alter these opinions. Additionally, level of education was examined to ascertain whether years of formal education influenced openness to change. Data from 286 Canadians was collected using an online survey and found that overall, opinions towards the early release of prisoners due to COVID-19 were negative. It was also found that psychoeducational intervention was an effective way to improve attitudes towards the early release of prisoners and that those with a higher level of education were not more affected by psychoeducational intervention than those with a lower level of education; however, it was noted that those with a higher level of education expressed less concern overall regarding the increase of released offenders in the community.