RT Article
T1 The Sexual Stratification Hypothesis and Prosecuting Sexual Assault: Is the Decision to File Charges Influenced by the Victim-Suspect Racial-Ethnic Dyad?
JF Crime & delinquency
VO 67
IS 8
SP 1165
OP 1194
A1 Kelley, Shamika M.
A1 O'Neal, Eryn Nicole
A1 Acquaviva, Brittany L.
A1 Fleming, Jessica C.
A1 Meeker, Katherine A.
A2 O'Neal, Eryn Nicole
A2 Acquaviva, Brittany L.
A2 Fleming, Jessica C.
A2 Meeker, Katherine A.
LA English
YR 2021
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1760062332
AB The sexual stratification hypothesis (SSH) posits that criminal-legal responses to sexual victimization differ depending on the victim-suspect racial-ethnic dyad. Existing tests of the SSH have resulted in inconsistent findings. Using data from 389 sexual assault (SA) complaints reported to Los Angeles police and referred to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, this study examines whether the victim-suspect racial-ethnic dyad and extra-legal victim-related factors shape prosecutorial initial filing decisions. Notably, we build on previous SSH tests by rotating racial-ethnic dyad reference categories to catalog all possible pairwise differences within the set of dummy variables. Findings suggest that prosecutors consider the victim-suspect racial-ethnic dyad and victim-related factors during initial filing. Theoretical advancements, practical implications, and suggestions for future research are discussed.
K1 prosecutorial charging
K1 Race
K1 Rape
K1 Sexual assault case processing
K1 sexual stratification hypothesis
DO 10.1177/0011128721991821