The report first focuses on the impact of public opinion on law and government. This is followed by a review of Australian survey data pertaining to public attitudes toward crime and imprisonment. This review notes that the courts, police, and prison officials have largely set priorities according to internal need and logic rather than in accordance with public opinion or even public interest. The report also considers public responses to a range of crimes and reports on research undertaken to examine the effect of information on public attitude toward criminal justice as expressed by a moral indignation or crime seriousness rating. The study indicates that the provision of relevant information does not provide a uniformly significant impact on public opinion about criminal justice. The report recommends reforms that will increase citizen involvement in the development and implementation of criminal justice policy. Chapter footnotes and references, appended study instruments and methodology, and 200-item bibliography.