Over the last 20 years, most western jurisdictions have experienced a punitive turn which is evident through the rising prison populations and the politicization of crime and punishment. Much of the survey data on public knowledge and attitudes to sentencing and punishment gathered over recent years have suggested that the public supports harsher punishment, as well as having less confidence in the criminal courts. Based on an analysis of a recent study of public knowledge and attitudes in Scotland, this article sets out to examine the evidence about the public’s view on punishment in Scotland. The results of the 2002 Scottish research are similar to the results of comparable research in other jurisdictions. A different interpretation of this evidence is proposed. It is argued that the evidence for the existence of a punitive mood is not as clear as prior interpretations. Two issues explored include: (1) an analysis of data gathered by different methodologies suggesting that public opinion on punishment is not clear, one-dimensional, or stable, but contradictory and fragile and (2) the methodologies are not neutral tools used to gather independent data. Although global trends point to ever-increasing prison populations and increasing populism in criminal justice politics, there are local conditions in Scotland, and not doubt elsewhere, which suggest that an alternative future is possible. Notes, references