Trust, Welfare, and Political Culture: Explaining Differences in National Penal Policies

Countries vary enormously in their punishment policies and practices. A nascent literature has begun to explain these differences. There are no simple explanations. Neither high or rising crime rates nor heightened public anxiety or severity explains why policies become tougher or are tougher in some places than in others. The most powerful predictors of moderation in policy and practices are high levels of confidence in fellow citizens and in government, strong welfare states, and consensus compared with conflict political systems. Other important factors include insulation of the legal system from politics, the way in which justice system personnel are trained, and the nature of the mass media.