CHARACTER OF THE DEFENDANT AND LENGTH OF SENTENCE IN RAPE AND BURGLARY CRIMES

• NCJ Number: 47203
• Journal: Journal of Social Psychology Volume: 104 Dated: (APRIL 1978) Pages: 271-277
• Author(s): N J BARNETT; H S FEILD
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: Journal Press
• Sale Source: Auburn University
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE EFFECTS OF THE NATURE OF THE CRIME AND THE CHARACTER, SEX, AND RACE OF THE DEFENDANT ON SENTENCING DECISIONS BY RANDOMLY SELECTED SUBJECTS ARE EXAMINED.

Abstract

THE SUBJECTS -- 60 FEMALES AND 60 MALES -- ARRIVED AT SENTENCING DECISIONS FOR WRITTEN CASES IN WHICH THE NATURE OF THE CRIME (RAPE OR BURGLARY) AND THE SOCIAL ATTRACTIVENESS, SEX, AND RACE OF THE DEFENDANT HAD BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY VARIED. (SOCIAL ATTRACTIVENESS REFERS TO SUCH ATTRIBUTES AS A STEADY JOB, GOOD INCOME, GOOD REPUTATION, AND A STABLE FAMILY SITUATION.) FOR THE CRIME OF RAPE, THE DEFENDANT'S SOCIAL ATTRACTIVENESS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE SENTENCING DECISION. FOR THE CRIME OF BURGLARY, ATTRACTIVENESS HAD ONLY A SLIGHT EFFECT ON DECISIONS, AND THEN ONLY IN COMBINATION WITH THE SEX OF THE DEFENDANT. SPECIFICALLY, ATTRACTIVE MALE DEFENDANTS IN BURGLARY CASES WERE GIVEN SIGNIFICANTLY HARSHER SENTENCES THAN WERE ATTRACTIVE FEMALE DEFENDANTS. THE RACE OF THE DEFENDANT HAD NO EFFECT ON JURORS' DECISIONS. THE RESULTS CONFIRM EARLIER FINDINGS SUGGESTING THAT DEFENDANT ATTRACTIVENESS INFLUENCES JURORS' JUDGMENT IN PERSON-ORIENTED CRIMES BUT IS LESS SIGNIFICANT IN PROPERTY-ORIENTED CRIMES. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. TABULAR DATA ARE OMITTED. (LKM)