RT Article
T1 Gender Disparity in Pennsylvania Child Abuse and Neglect Sentencing Outcomes
JF Crime & delinquency
VO 66
IS 12
SP 1703
OP 1728
A1 Hanrath, Lily
A2 Font, Sarah
LA English
YR 2020
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1738301591
AB Sentencing studies consistently show that male offenders receive more severe sentences than females. However, theory-based explanations for gender disparities in sentencing, which posit lenience is partially based on caregiver status, may be less relevant for crimes against children. This study leverages Pennsylvania Sentencing Commission data to assess sentence type and length among adults convicted of child neglect or physical abuse between 2006 and 2016. Employing bivariate and multivariate statistics, we found that, although female perpetrators make up the majority of child neglect and physical abuse perpetrators in the Child Protective Services system, they are a minority of those convicted. If convicted, women received less harsh sentences than men, consistent with the disparate gender patterns found in general criminal sentencing research.
K1 Gender disparity
K1 Sentencing
K1 Child abuse
K1 Neglect
K1 Focal concerns
DO 10.1177/0011128720930670