RT Article
T1 Charge reduction: An analysis of prosecutorial discretion in burglary and robbery cases
JF Journal of quantitative criminology
VO 8
IS 3
SP 317
OP 333
A1 Albonetti, Celesta Ann
LA English
YR 1992
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/176427752X
AB Although a substantial number of researchers have studied charge reductions taking place within the context of guilty plea negotiations, few have focused on estimating the determinants of charge reductions taking place at the initial screening decision. The prosecutor's decision to reduce original felony charges to a misdemeanor has serious social, legal, and economic consequences for the suspect. This paper presents a model of the variables affecting the likelihood of such a reduction in burglary and robbery offenses. Drawing from Littrell's “principled charging” perspective and earlier research on labeling, the analysis involves estimating logistic regression equations specifying both main and interaction effects of the suspect's gender and race and variables related to suspect character, case seriousness, and legal seriousness. Partial support is found for Littrell's perspective.
K1 Interaction Effects
K1 logit analysis
K1 Prosecutorial Discretion
K1 Charge reduction
DO 10.1007/BF01064551