Respondents to a 1991 survey in Michigan and Virginia revealed a public not nearly so punitive as the political debate would indicate. The majority still believed in the efficacy of the traditional juvenile justice system with its emphasis on prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, and rejected the retributive thrust of a punishment-centered system. They believed that secure institutional programs should be reserved for only the most serious juvenile offenders. The treatment modality of choice for most youth should be community-based programs that focus on rehabilitation. Respondents favored the restorative justice philosophy that emphasizes restitution to victims and service to the community. They wanted young offenders to get job training, education and counseling in the local community, and were prepared to invest in programs that work and that would reduce crime.