“Taking Back Our Country”: Tea Party Membership and Support for Punitive Crime Control Policies (original) (raw)

This study examines the relationship between Tea Party Movement (TPM) membership and support for punitive crime control policies. Utilizing national survey data, it explores whether TPM affiliation correlates with increased support for policies that disproportionately impact black individuals, and investigates the potential mediating role of racial animus. The findings reveal that TPM members exhibit significantly higher support for punitive measures and greater racial resentment than non-TPM members, suggesting that support for punitive crime policies may be intertwined with underlying racial biases.