Custodial decision making in a magistrates' court

This article explores the relative contributions to sentencing decision making of a stable court culture and immediate situational factors intervening in particular cases. An empirical study of a magistrates' court which showed a generally parsimonious use of custody reveals that this pattern w...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Rumgay, Judith (Author)
Format: Print Article
Language:English
Published: 1995
In: The British journal of criminology
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Availability in Tübingen:Present in Tübingen.
IFK: In: Z 7
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Summary:This article explores the relative contributions to sentencing decision making of a stable court culture and immediate situational factors intervening in particular cases. An empirical study of a magistrates' court which showed a generally parsimonious use of custody reveals that this pattern was generally sustained by important characteristics of the approach to decision making within the court itself and of magistrates' views on the nature of their task. However, immediate situational factors intervening in particular cases appeared to disrupt the general decision making process, provoking decisions to impose custody. The implications for modifying sentencing decision making are explored
ISSN:0007-0955