Concern exists regarding the prison population within the UK, the Ministry of Justice (2021) suggests rises above maximum capacity within the next four years. Recidivism rates stand at 25.7% (GOV UK, 2019), thereby necessitating the successful rehabilitation of major offenders to control the prison population and allow for the safe release of offenders back into society. Offenders often struggle with societal reintroduction due to the negative attitudes held towards prisoners, making it difficult to settle and desist from crime. This research used a quantitative approach in study one to measure the attitudes that 116 members of the public held towards prisoners, using the Attitudes Towards Prisoners Scale (Melvin et al., 1985). A significant result suggested that the older participants held more negative views towards prisoners. Study two used semi-structured interviews to discuss eight participants views towards rehabilitation within the UK, and one retired police officer to understand institutional views by comparison. Four common themes relating to a negative attitude towards offenders were identified: a lack of understanding, a negative media portrayal, worry about recidivism, and interventions given. This research highlights the importance of providing successful rehabilitation programmes, alongside an increase in honesty and transparency from the criminal justice system and media to allow the public to generate more positive attitudes towards major offenders.