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                            Library & Multimedia
 A Longitudinal Examination of the Influence of Sex and Race on Sentencing Outcomes in Florida's Rural and Urban Counties
NCJ Number
              306116

Author(s)
          Micaela M. Alvarado
Date Published

December 2019
Length
              105 pages
Annotation
              This thesis explores the question of whether sentencing disparities identified across demographic characteristics and between counties are interrelated and if they have remained stable over time, with a focus on the intersection of race/ethnicity and gender.
Abstract
              The author of this theses examines the multifaceted factors that are in play during sentencing in the criminal justice system and to fill a gap in the literature regarding sentencing disparities based on race and sex across types of counties, such as rural or urban counties, and whether those patterns have changed over time. The author lists three reasons for the importance of this research: it helps inform recent sentencing reforms aimed at targeting inequalities in the criminal processing system; filling a research gap on county-by-county variation in sentencing disparities by demographic characteristics; and examining longitudinal trends in sentencing constitutes an important step in better understanding influential factors in judicial decision making. The thesis examines trends over time as it addresses two specific research questions: do individuals from urban counties receive harsher sentences than those from rural counties; and does an offender’s race, sex, and county of residence influence the sentencing severity. Results showed that individuals in rural counties received harsher sentences, and revealed evidence of overall increased punitiveness for both urban and rural counties over the last several years. Results also revealed differences in sentencing outcomes based on race/ethnicity and sex between rural and urban counties; specifically, Black males experienced the most severe punishment in both rural and urban counties as well as receiving the most punitive form of punishment over time. Results also demonstrated that rural counties provided more punitive sentences in general, while urban counties have more offenders. The author suggests that urban counties may, as a result, rely on different punishment options due to limited resources. Analyses revealed more lenient sentences for females across rural and urban counties over time.
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2014-IJ-CX-0026


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Thesis/Dissertation


  
  
        
  Award
        Measuring the Effects of Correctional Officer Stress on the Well-Being of the Officer and the Prison Workplace and Developing a Practical Index of Officer Stress for Use by Correctional Agencies
    
  
  
Date Published: December 1, 2019
    
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