Public support for harsher criminal penalties?

• A. Penal Populism
• B. Zero Tolerance
• C. Closed-Circuit Television
• D. Restorative Justice

Answer: (A)

This item looks at how public opinion can shape crime policy by political leaders promising tougher penalties to win votes. That idea is captured by Penal Populism, where politicians respond to popular demand for harsher punishment and frame crime as a political issue to gain support. In that sense, the question’s statement directly fits this concept because it describes the link between public desire for tougher penalties and the political response to that demand. The other terms refer to different approaches: zero tolerance is about strict enforcement in practice, not the political appeal to the public; closed-circuit television relates to surveillance rather than punishment; restorative justice focuses on repairing harm rather than increasing penalties. So Penal Populism best explains why public support for harsher penalties might influence policy.