JUSTICE SYSTEM AND SENTENCING - THE IMPORTANCE OF RACE IN THE MILITARY

• NCJ Number: 44331
• Journal: Criminology Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: (AUGUST 1977) Pages: 225-234
• Author(s): R W PERRY
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RACE AND SENTENCE SEVERITY IS EXAMINED IN A STUDY OF DATA ON INCARCERATED NAVY AND MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL.

Abstract

THE ANALYSIS IS CONCERNED WITH THE ARGUMENT THAT MUCH OF THE VARIATION IN SENTENCES FOR WHITES AND BLACKS IS DUE NOT ONLY TO CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OFFENDERS, BUT ALSO TO CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SENTENCING PROCESS. BECAUSE THE STANDARDIZED SENTENCING PROCESS IN THE MILITARY ELIMINATES MANY OF THE UNCONTROLLED INFLUENCES CHARACTERISTIC OF CIVILIAN STUDIES, A CLEARER ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPORTANCE OF RACE IN SENTENCING DETERMINATION SHOULD BE POSSIBLE. DATA ON THE DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS, MILITARY STATUS, AND OFFENSES OF ALL ENLISTED-GRADE PRISONERS SERVING A SENTENCE IN NAVAL AND MARINE CORPS CONFINEMENT INSTITUTIONS DURING THE LAST QUARTER OF 1972 ARE ANALYZED. NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN SENTENCE LENGTH BETWEEN BLACKS AND WHITES ARE FOUND. WHERE SMALL DIFFERENCES DO EXIST, WHITES USUALLY RECEIVE LONGER SENTENCES THAN BLACKS. THE LARGEST DIFFERENCE IS IN THE MAJOR MILITARY OFFENSE CATEGORY, IN WHICH WHITES' SENTENCES AVERAGE APPROXIMATELY 4 MONTHS LONGER THAN BLACKS'. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.