SISTERHOOD IN THE COURTROOM - SEX OF JUDGE AND DEFENDANT AS FACTORS IN CRIMINAL CASE DISPOSITION

• NCJ Number: 41938
• Author(s): H M KRITZER; T M UHLMAN
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 27 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PREPARED FOR THE 1976 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE WESTERN SOCIAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY, TEMPE, ARIZONA, APRIL 29 - MAY 1, 1976

Annotation

THIS PAPER LOOKS AT QUESTIONS CONCERNING WOMEN JUDGES IN CRIMINAL CASES COMPARING THEIR BEHAVIOR TO THAT OF MALE JUDGES.

Abstract

THE QUESTIONS ADDRESSED IN THIS PAPER INCLUDE: IS THE SEX OF THE PARTICIPANTS AN IMPORTANT VARIABLE IN CRIMINAL CASE DISPOSITION? IS THE BEHAVIOR OF FEMALE JUDGES SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT THAN THE BEHAVIOR OF MALE JUDGES? AND, DO FEMALE AND MALE JUDGES RESPOND DIFFERENTLY TO DEFENDANTS OF THEIR OWN SEX THAN THEY DO TO DEFENDANTS OF THE OPPOSITE SEX? THESE QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED BY LOOKING AT CASES INVOLVING NINE CATEGORIES OF CRIMES TAKEN FROM THE CRIMINAL COURTS OF METRO CITY, THE CENTRAL CITY OF ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S MAJOR METROPOLITAN CENTERS. THE ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT WHILE THE DEFENDANT'S SEX HAS SIGNIFICANT, YET MODEST, EFFECTS ON CRIMINAL CASE DISPOSITIONS, THE SEX OF THE JUDGE HAS VIRTUALLY NO SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS, EVEN IN RAPE CASES WHERE THERE IS A CLEAR CONFLICT IN SEX ROLES. FURTHERMORE, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER OF AN INTERACTION BETWEEN SEX OF THE DEFENDANT AND THE SEX OF THE JUDGE.(AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...TWH