SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND CRIMINAL SENTENCING - AN EMPIRICAL ASSESSMENT OF A CONFLICT PROPOSITION

• NCJ Number: 31105
• Journal: American Sociological Review Volume: 40 Issue: 6 Dated: (DECEMBER 1975) Pages: 753-772
• Author(s): T G CHIRICOS; G P WALDO
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 20 pages
• Corporate Author: American Sociological Review
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EMPIRICAL TEST OF THE PROPOSITION THAT WHEN CRIMINAL SANCTIONS ARE IMPOSED, THE MOST SEVERE SANCTIONS WILL BE IMPOSED ON MEMBERS OF THE LOWEST SOCIAL CLASS.

Abstract

PRISON SENTENCES RECEIVED BY 10,488 INMATES FOR A TOTAL OF 17 SPECIFIC OFFENSES IN THREE SOUTHEASTERN STATES WERE EXAMINED. PRODUCT-MOMENT CORRELATIONS BETWEEN A DEFENDANT'S SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND THE SENTENCE RECEIVED PROVIDED NO SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSITION, AND THIS CONCLUSION WAS FURTHER STRENGTHENED WHEN CONTROLS WERE INTRODUCED FOR THE OFFENDER'S PRIOR RECORD AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS. MULTIPLE CORRELATION AND BETA COEFFICIENTS ARE ALSO EXAMINED WITH SIMILAR CONCLUSIONS. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE EXPLANATION OF CRIMINAL SANCTIONING INSTITUTIONS BY CONFLICT MECHANISMS ARE SUGGESTED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)