NCJ Number
220075
Journal
Homicide Studies Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Dated: August 2007 Pages: 213-230
Date Published
August 2007
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study examined differences in criminal justice processing outcomes in intimate partner (IP) and non-intimate partner homicide on a mixed gender sample.
Abstract
The results of the study demonstrated that there were significant differences in conviction charge and sentencing outcomes in both types of homicide cases; these differences were magnified when the data were disaggregated by gender of offender. Gender appeared to be more prominent in criminal justice outcomes among intimate partner (IP) homicide defendants than non-IP defendants. Male IP homicide defendants were treated more severely than female defendants at all examined stages of the criminal justice process. Also, male defendants were sanctioned more harshly for IP than for non-IP homicides. Most prior research on IP homicide sanctioning is limited by research designs that analyze outcomes only for defendants charged or convicted of IP homicide, or that focus on female offenders. These studies preclude comparisons of criminal justice responses to intimate and non-intimate homicide cases, as well as comparisons of male and female offenders. The 1,137 participant sample consisted of homicide cases in which the defendant was adjudicated guilty in Philadelphia, PA during 1995 to 2000. Tables, notes, and references