NCJ Number
207397
Journal
Homicide Studies Volume: 8 Issue: 4 Dated: November 2004 Pages: 350-376
Date Published
November 2004
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This study examined the interaction of victim race and gender on death sentence outcomes in Ohio.
Abstract
The factors that influence criminal sentencing outcomes have been a common focus of social science research. While much of this research specifies the effects of defendant characteristics on death sentence outcomes, little attention has been focused on the potential interaction of victim race and gender and its association with death sentence outcomes. The current study explored the potential interaction of victim gender and race characteristics and its impact on the likelihood of a homicide resulting in the imposition of the death sentence in Ohio. Data on 5,320 Ohio homicides were drawn from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Supplementary Homicide Reports (SHR) for the years 1981 through 1994; the sample included 271 homicides for which a sentence of death was imposed. Data on homicides resulting in a death sentence were gathered from State agencies and were matched and merged with the SHR data. Results of logistic regression analyses revealed that homicides involving White female victims were significantly more likely to result in a sentence of death in Ohio. The findings underscore the importance of examining the interaction between race and gender characteristics. Future research should consider the interactive role of victim race and gender characteristics on disparity in noncapital sentencing outcomes. Table, notes, references