Gender-based judicial ingroup bias in sex crime sentencing: evidence from Belgium

Exploring data on adjudication of sex crimes at a major Belgian court, we study the presence of gender-based judicial ingroup bias in criminal sentencing. Using a difference-in-difference approach and addressing sample selection concerns, we find that defendants who are randomly assigned to a panel...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Bielen, Samantha (Author) ; Grajzl, Peter (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2020
In: International journal of law, crime and justice
Year: 2020, Volume: 62
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
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Keywords:
Gender
Ingroup bias
Judicial bias
Sentencing
Sex crimes
Description
Summary:Exploring data on adjudication of sex crimes at a major Belgian court, we study the presence of gender-based judicial ingroup bias in criminal sentencing. Using a difference-in-difference approach and addressing sample selection concerns, we find that defendants who are randomly assigned to a panel featuring a presiding judge of matching gender receive comparatively more severe sentences. The resulting effect is discernible especially when the crime involves a female victim. This suggests that the underlying driver of the negative gender-based ingroup bias is judicial enforcement of a salient ingroup norm, in itself an expression of affinity with one's gender-based ingroup.
ISSN:1756-0616
DOI:10.1016/j.ijlcj.2020.100394