The majority of Canadians believe it is appropriate to impose restrictions on Karla Homolka after she is released from prison, according to a new poll.

Earlier this month, a judge at a hearing in Joliette, Que. imposed restrictions on Homolka's movements for a year after she is released from prison in less than a month.

While 71 per cent of Canadians believe those who have served their sentences should be allowed to restart their lives without restrictions, this did not apply to the notorious schoolgirl killer.

According to pollster The Strategic Counsel, which conducted the poll for CTV and The Globe and Mail, 83 per cent of respondents believe Homolka is a special case in which it is appropriate to apply restrictions.

A somewhat smaller proportion, 74 per cent, felt that Homolka will pose a threat to the public upon her release from prison.

Meanwhile, 90 per cent of respondents believe Homolka was both an active accomplice in her then-husband Paul Bernardo's crimes and that she acted of her own free will.

The other 10 per cent believe she went along with the abductions and murders of the two Ontario teenagers, Leslie Mahaffy and Kristen French, because she feared for her own life.

In addition, the survey indicates that two-thirds of Canadians followed the Homolka case.

But Canadians were split on whether the media coverage was appropriate.

About 50 per cent of the general public thought the coverage was fitting, while 9 per cent thought it was restrained, and 41 per cent thought it had been overly sensationalized.

At the same time, 48 per cent felt there was too much coverage, while 44 per cent thought there was the right amount, and 8 per cent felt there wasn't enough.

This month's hearing was prompted by a request from Ontario's attorney general to have special conditions imposed on Homolka after her 12-year jail term for the slayings of the two schoolgirls, and the death of her sister Tammy Homolka, ends on July 5. There is speculation that she might be released a few days before the sentence ends.

The Quebec judge placed restrictions on Homolka, including prohibiting her from associating with known criminals, communicating with the families of her victims, and working with children under 16.

The judge also ordered Homolka to give advance notice to police when she plans to travel.

• The poll findings are based on telephone interviews conducted among a national sample of 1,000 adult Canadians 18 years of age or older. The interviews were conducted on June 6 to 9. A sample of 1,000 yields a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.