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When asked directly, rehabilitation clearly overcomes any other motivation for imprisonment, with 82% of participants believing the main purpose of prisons should be to "rehabilitate criminals (see fig. 6). Clearly, given US history there could be significant implications to this result. It is completely conceivable that crime and justice may become a more forefront issue in future election cycles, new candidates may come hoping to make their names with new ideas, new, bold ideas may include a rehabilitation based justice system. If that is the case, there would be plenty of support for a change. The pendulum could swing back towards rehabilitation rapidly.

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The point that truly begins to divide the sample population is on the cost of prison. 53% would desire an increase in spending on prisons while 47% would prefer decreasing prison spending., a rather even split (see fig. 6). Given that those that took the survey were given no information outside of the question, the fact that a rehabilitation system would actually require an increase in spending, with some rehabilitation nations spending over "$93,000 per inmate per year, compared with just $31,000 for prisoners in the United States" (Benko), could shift the perspective as to what the US should focus on. However, as one participant commented (see fig. 7), as a rehabilitation system took hold, the eventual reduction in inmates would mean that the total amount spent would eventually be reduced. This may still be unappealing to some rehabilitation supporters making it important that, if a change is going to occur, all facts be presented or else there may be another overwhelmingly unpopular system.
Whatever the final bill ends up being, whatever the final system that is chosen, it is clear that  the desire of the public must be addressed, and  the final decision must be a well studied and debated choice.

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Contrary to expectation, the question of the effectiveness of the legal system has been incredibly divisive; despite the security brought about, only 30% of those surveyed described the current justice system as "effective". 45% saw the current justice system as "ineffective" and 15% were even more critical, describing the current justice system as "very ineffective"(See fig. 2). The reasons for this disparity of perception could be attributed to the fact that the mainly suburban middle-class survey participants are unlikely to be in an unsafe community. This would not leave the participants unaware of the failings of the justice system. Whether it be from media reports, political debates, or previous experience with the system,  there is a public perception that the current legal process needs reforms, reforms that will likely come soon.

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There are two main factors of the prison system: rehabilitation and punishment. Overall, there is no division on punishment or rehabilitation. Both are overwhelmingly desired by those surveyed with 80% agreeing or strongly agreeing that criminals should be punished (see fig. 3) and 95% agreeing or strongly agreeing that criminals should be rehabilitated (see fig 4).Overall, as Professor Reynolds stated earlier, it is understood that the threat of punishment is necessary to prevent crime. As necessary as it may be, it is not what is ultimately desired. Participants were much more keen on rehabilitation, with 55% strongly agreeing compared to only 30% strongly agreeing on punishment. Given that the current punishment based system was also viewed as so ineffective, this result should come as no surprise. Furthermore, since today's prisoner is tomorrow's neighbor, people that live and enjoy living in safe communities will likely view systems that ensure that future neighbors have the ability to integrate back into society.

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An overwhelming majority of those surveyed felt safe in their communities, with 84% describing their communities as "safe" or "very safe" (see Fig. 1). The current justice system, clearly, appears to have a tangibly successful effect, backing up the assertion of Texas A&M Professor Morgan Reynolds in " that the threat of bad consequences, including public retribution posed by the legal system, is vital to secure human rights to life and property against predation." Essentially, a system based on harsh punishment should effectively reduce crime by dissuading potential offenders. It seems this has been effective given the sentiments of those surveyed making it expected that those surveyed should also largely support the system that has kept them so safe.

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The subject of criminal justice will always be seriously and vigorously debated. Since combating crime is often a hot political topic, public opinion often has substantial impact on how policy is carried out and implemented. This phenomenon has caused drastic changes in the American prison system since the foundation of the nation. The 1780's Quaker-led movement that succeeded in replacing physical punishment for criminals with imprisonment, the early to mid-twentieth century trend of rehabilitating criminals, and the trend since the 80's that focuses on punishing and deterring crime have all been changes to the prison system that came about directly due to public pressure (Wiloch). Clearly, any trend in public opinion today may predict the trend of how criminal justice is applied tomorrow, making a survey a potential crystal ball as to the future of the criminal justice system.