The results of this study illustrate the crisis of penal populism and challenge researchers to re-examine some of the basic tenets of crime policy. Although many of the realities of penal populism are unsightly and unproductive, it can provide the energy for the kind of reform that will create a more robust and meaningful crime policy. It is suggested that this could be achieved by inviting the public into the policy formulation process in a genuine way. This study outlines the main understanding of penal populism articulated in earlier works, and then the puntative causes of penal populism are expanded considering the contributions of precipitating factors on six levels. A number of suggestions and strategies are provided at each of the six levels. The study also discusses the topic of public inclusion into the development of policy. It is noted that a democratization of policy is crucial and ultimately the most profound way of addressing the challenge of penal populism. Table, figure, and references