Using survey data, this research examines the role of media exposure and attention to media on people's knowledge and perception of a specific criminal justice policy: Megan's Law. Overall, the results revealed that general knowledge of Megan's Law is low. Media exposure and attention increased the level of specific knowledge of Massachusetts community notification law but did not have an effect on knowledge of Megan's Law in general. Attention to crime in the newspaper was related to both support for Megan's Law and belief in its effectiveness. The low level of variability in support, however, suggests that community notification is an across-the-board popular policy, even among people with minimal media exposure and who pay little attention to crime in the news.In 1994, a young New Jersey resident, 7-year-old Megan Kanka, was abducted and murdered by a repeat sex offender. Soon after this incident, New Jersey adopted what would become known as Megan's Law. This law requires the police to publicly inform citizens when high-risk sex offenders 356 AUTHORS' NOTE: We would like to acknowledge the support of our students enrolled in the 1999 fall semester research methods courses in criminal justice and communication studies at Westfield State College. These students worked diligently at collecting the data for this project. We would also like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their helpful suggestions and comments on an earlier draft of this article.

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This study evaluated the objective and predictive value of the Nebraska Department of Corrections' Inmate Classification Model, a variation of the Federal Prison System's Model. A sample of 458 male offenders was assessed on 11 predictor variables—5 classification variables and 6 demographic variables—and 5 institutional adjustment variables. The results indicated that the Nebraska model was making objective classification decisions based solely on the classification variables. However, the model was not a valid instrument for predicting the offenders' institutional adjustment problems. Age and education level—two variables not included in this model—emerged as the best predictors of adjustment. These findings suggest that the model's predictive value could be improved by incorporating valid predictor variables into the classification process.

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The use of parole as an institutional control mechanism is designed to reward inmate conformity with early release and punish nonconformity with continued confinement. Although much research has examined factors affecting parole board decisions, little research has focused on the control function of the parole decision. The present study, using deterrence theory, analyzes 233 offenders at the offender board review to determine the impact of the board's decision on offender misconduct. Results show lower rates of postreview misconduct for offenders denied parole hearings compared to offenders granted parole hearings. Furthermore, deterrence was strongest for highand medium-rate offenders who were denied parole hearings. However, misconduct also decreased for high-rate offenders who were granted parole hearings. The authors recommend that correctional administrators consider the importance of parole as a mechanism for controlling institutional behavior among incarcerated inmates.