Presentence Investigation Reports and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Sentencing

Racial/ethnic disparity in criminal sentencing is a major area of interest in criminal justice research. However, little research has examined the potential importance of the presentence investigation report (PSI) despite its wide-ranging use in criminal justice decision-making from sentencing onwar...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Monaghan, Rory (Author) ; Konefal, Kaitlyn (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2023
In: Crime & delinquency
Year: 2023, Volume: 69, Issue: 12, Pages: 2460-2483
Online Access: Volltext (kostenfrei)
Rights Information:CC BY 4.0
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Keywords:
criminal courts
Disparity
presentence investigations
racial/ethnic disparity
Sentencing
Description
Summary:Racial/ethnic disparity in criminal sentencing is a major area of interest in criminal justice research. However, little research has examined the potential importance of the presentence investigation report (PSI) despite its wide-ranging use in criminal justice decision-making from sentencing onward. These reports are typically compiled by a probation officer post-conviction but before sentencing and provide relevant contextual information about offense and offender to aid the sentencing judge?s decision. Using data from the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing (PCS) (2006?2016), we examine the association between PSI completion and racial/ethnic disparities in sentencing. Results suggest that PSI completion is associated with more severe sentencing outcomes overall, but findings regarding racial/ethnic disparities are mixed.
ISSN:1552-387X
DOI:10.1177/00111287221077632