Effects of offender gender on prosecutorial decision-making

This article addresses the extent to which an offender’s sex and the type of offense influences decisions made by prosecuting attorneys in criminal cases. Prosecutors in one south-eastern state were asked to decide initial charging, plea negotiations, and sentence recommendations in two hypothetical...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Orvis, Gregory P. (Author)
Contributors: Zupan, Linda L.
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 1990
In: American journal of criminal justice
Year: 1990, Volume: 15, Issue: 1, Pages: 122-136
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Keywords:
Auto Theft
Male Offender
Female Offender
Probation Officer
Criminal Case
Description
Summary:This article addresses the extent to which an offender’s sex and the type of offense influences decisions made by prosecuting attorneys in criminal cases. Prosecutors in one south-eastern state were asked to decide initial charging, plea negotiations, and sentence recommendations in two hypothetical crime scenarios. The first scenario depicted a gender-neutral crime; the second described a traditionally masculine crime. The sex of the offenders was varied in two different versions of the scenarios. The findings reveal that prosecutors treated the male and female offenders differently. In particular, prosecutors recommended harsher sentences for the female offender, regardless of the type of offense.
ISSN:1936-1351
DOI:10.1007/BF02887460