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Gender Disparity: A view of Florida’s Correction System

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Date Issued:
2017
Summary:
Disparity in sentence length has long been a topic of discussion (Spohn, 2009). Though most research is aimed at disparity due to race, few studies utilize sex as a focal point (Crow & Kunselman, 2009; Embry & Lyons, 2012; Gavin, 2014; Hartley, Kwak, Park & Min-Sik Lee, 2011; Hasset-Walker, Lateano, Di Benedetto, 2014; Messing, 2008; Steffensmeier, Ulmer & Kramer, 1998). The focus of this study is to examine the effect of sex on sentence length, controlling for characteristics derived from the evil woman hypothesis, chivalry hypothesis, and focal concerns theory, to discuss the potential paternalism of the criminal justice system, which may cause potential sentence disparities (Daly, 1989; Nagel & Hagen, 1983; Steffensmeir, Ulmer, & Kramer, 1998). The findings indicate that women always receive a reduced sentence compared to male offenders, regardless of the crime type of past criminal offenses. The statistically significant results indicate that there is a need to review the criminal justice system and implement new polices such as judicial review to help stymie the differing sentences given (Spohn, 2009). If not, offenders will continue to receive differing sentences, based solely on extra-legal factors, such as the sex of the offender.
Title: Gender Disparity: A view of Florida’s Correction System.
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Name(s): Kutikoff, Adam, author
Hauser, William, Thesis advisor
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
College for Design and Social Inquiry
School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Created: 2017
Date Issued: 2017
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 116 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Disparity in sentence length has long been a topic of discussion (Spohn, 2009). Though most research is aimed at disparity due to race, few studies utilize sex as a focal point (Crow & Kunselman, 2009; Embry & Lyons, 2012; Gavin, 2014; Hartley, Kwak, Park & Min-Sik Lee, 2011; Hasset-Walker, Lateano, Di Benedetto, 2014; Messing, 2008; Steffensmeier, Ulmer & Kramer, 1998). The focus of this study is to examine the effect of sex on sentence length, controlling for characteristics derived from the evil woman hypothesis, chivalry hypothesis, and focal concerns theory, to discuss the potential paternalism of the criminal justice system, which may cause potential sentence disparities (Daly, 1989; Nagel & Hagen, 1983; Steffensmeir, Ulmer, & Kramer, 1998). The findings indicate that women always receive a reduced sentence compared to male offenders, regardless of the crime type of past criminal offenses. The statistically significant results indicate that there is a need to review the criminal justice system and implement new polices such as judicial review to help stymie the differing sentences given (Spohn, 2009). If not, offenders will continue to receive differing sentences, based solely on extra-legal factors, such as the sex of the offender.
Identifier: FA00004818 (IID)
Degree granted: Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017.
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Includes bibliography.
Subject(s): Florida.--Department of Corrections--Evaluation.
Female offenders--Florida--Social conditions.
Corrections--Florida--Evaluation.
Criminal justice, Administration of--Florida--Evaluatioin.
Sentences (Criminal procedure)--Florida.
Sex discrimination in criminal justice administration--Florida.
Prison sentences--Florida.
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Sublocation: Digital Library
Links: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004818
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004818
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.