NCJ Number
209046
Journal
Justice Quarterly Volume: 21 Issue: 4 Dated: December 2004 Pages: 877-902
Date Published
December 2004
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This study examined whether defendants convicted of murdering White females are more likely to receive death sentences than other defendants.
Abstract
Research on the possibility of disparity in the imposition of capital punishment have flourished in recent years, adding to the research literature on the various legal and extra-legal factors affecting case outcomes at various points in the criminal justice system. The current study adds to this literature by examining the relationship between victim characteristics, namely race and gender characteristics, and homicide case outcomes in Ohio. Data on 5,976 homicide cases in Ohio were drawn from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI's) Supplemental Homicide Reports (SHR), which include information on offender and victim characteristics, offense characteristics, and the relationship between offender and victim. Data analysis focused on the interactive effects of victim race and gender, specifically, the “White female victim effect.” Results indicated that, consistent with expectations, defendants convicted of murdering White female victims were more likely to receive a death sentence than defendants convicted of murdering Black or male victims. The odds of receiving a death sentence were also increased for defendants convicted of murdering White victims and for defendants convicted of murdering female victims. The findings thus reveal disparity in sentencing outcomes for homicide cases involving a possible death sentence. The findings presented here are limited to the State of Ohio; future research should consider re-examining existing data from other States to explore the interactive effects of victim race and gender for criminal justice outcomes. Tables, references