NCJ Number
229212
Journal
Criminology Volume: 47 Issue: 4 Dated: November 2009 Pages: 1045-1090
Date Published
November 2009
Length
46 pages
Annotation
This study examined the treatment of Asian-American offenders in the Federal justice system using sentencing data from the United States Sentencing Commission (USSC).
Abstract
The findings from this study lend credence to contemporary theoretical perspectives that emphasize the situational meaning of race and ethnicity in the justice system, and they also provide overarching evidence that broad patterns of racialized justice continue to characterize contemporary punishment decisions. Specific to this study, Asian-American offenders often were treated similarly to or even more leniently than their White counterparts, and they were often sentenced to less severe punishments than African-American and Hispanic offenders. An important next step in understanding the role of model minority stereotypes in Federal punishment decisions is research incorporating qualitative methods. Research on racial and ethnic disparities in criminal punishment is expansive but remains focused on the treatment of African-American and Hispanic offenders. This study broadened contemporary debates on racial disparity by systematically examining sentencing decisions for Asian-American offenders in United States Federal courts. The study examined sentencing disparities in Federal district courts for several outcomes using data from the USSC for fiscal year 1997-fiscal year 2000. Tables, references, and appendix