Difference, Disparity, and Race/Ethnic Bias in Federal Sentencing

Federal sentencing guidelines were enacted to reduce unwarranted disparities in sentencing. In this paper we examine the degree to which disparity in sentencing on the basis of race and ethnicity occurred in federal sentencing after the guidelines were implemented. We consider how much of the dispar...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Everett, Ronald S. (Author)
Contributors: Wojtkiewicz, Roger A.
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2002
In: Journal of quantitative criminology
Year: 2002, Volume: 18, Issue: 2, Pages: 189-211
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Keywords:
Disparity
Guidelines
Sentencing
determinate
race/ethnic bias
Description
Summary:Federal sentencing guidelines were enacted to reduce unwarranted disparities in sentencing. In this paper we examine the degree to which disparity in sentencing on the basis of race and ethnicity occurred in federal sentencing after the guidelines were implemented. We consider how much of the disparity is explained by offense-related factors as specified in the guidelines. We find that African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans receive relatively harsher sentences than whites and that these differentials are only partly explained by offense-related characteristics. We interpret our findings in light of attribution, uncertainty avoidance, and conflict theories.
ISSN:1573-7799
DOI:10.1023/A:1015258732676