NCJ Number
86399
Date Published
1982
Length
94 pages
Annotation
This study examines the manner and extent to which differential treatment within the judicial system on the basis of race and gender takes place in a large midwestern city.
Abstract
All defendants processed on felony charges through the city court system from January 1, 1976, to June 1977 were studied. Bivariate associations between independent variables and sentencing outcome (probation vs. confinement) were evaluated. Crime, number of charges, crime seriousness, race, gender, plea bargaining, and past record were all associated with sentencing outcome. However, when included in a multivariate analysis in which the independent effects of each predictor could be examined, findings revealed that race and number of charges were no longer significant. Crime and the presence of plea bargaining were the most important variables predicting sentence outcome for both men and women. Judge caseload was also significant for both groups. Age and number of continuances played a role in predicting outcome for women. The offense variables of crime and seriousness played a primary role in predicting sentencing outcome for men. However, seriousness was not important for women. Furthermore, far less variance was explained for women than for men. This finding suggested that decisions to confine women offenders might be based on criteria other than presenting offense. Defendants who pleaded innocent and were found guilty at trial were not punished more severely than those who plea bargained. Footnotes and 38 tables are provided.