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Changes for page Sentencing Disparities

Last modified by Ryan C on 2025/04/24 02:46
From version 11.1
edited by Ryan C
on 2025/04/24 02:31
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To version 14.1
edited by Ryan C
on 2025/04/24 02:36
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... ... @@ -23,12 +23,13 @@
23 23  
24 24  Here is a comparison chart of sentencing differences:
25 25  
26 +[[image:nvidia_overlay_8ne8or9mbt.png||data-xwiki-image-style="thumbnail-clickable" width="200"]]
26 26  
27 27  == **The Things Ignored** ==
28 28  
29 29  1. **Wealth**:
30 30  
31 -1.
32 +1.
32 32  1*. Wealthier defendants are more likely to afford experienced private attorneys who negotiate better plea deals, argue for leniency, and secure reduced sentences.
33 33  1*. Public defenders are far worse than private counsel. The disparities in sentencing are clearly evident when you look at the Bureau of Justice’s report on counsel {{footnote}}Department of Justice Report [[Defense Counsel in Criminal Cases>>https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/dccc.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com]]{{/footnote}} which also shows that Whites are around 10% more likely to retain private counsel. {{footnote}}Department of Justice Report [[Defense Counsel in Criminal Cases>>https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/dccc.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com]]{{/footnote}}
34 34  
... ... @@ -41,17 +41,17 @@
41 41  
42 42  1. **Case Study: Drug Court Outcomes**:
43 43  
44 -1.
45 +1.
45 45  1*. Blacks have been shown to have lower rates of completion in drug court.{{footnote}}Roman, J., et al. “Recidivism Rates for Drug Court Graduates: Nationally Based Estimates, Final Report.” US Department of Justice, 2003. [[Department of Justice>>https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/201229.pdf]]{{/footnote}}
46 46  1*. Whites have lower rates of recidivism than non-Black minorities, and Blacks have higher recidivism rates than non-Black minorities {{footnote}}Schiff, M., & Terry, C. (1997). “Predicting graduation from Broward County’s dedicated drug treatment court.” //Justice System Journal//, 19, 291–292, 310. Accessible via [[Sci-Hub>>https://sci-hub.ru/https://doi.org/10.1080/23277556.1997.10871265]].{{/footnote}}
47 47  1. **Voluntary Actions Influence Sentencing**:
48 48  
49 -1.
50 +1.
50 50  1*. Judges heavily weigh voluntary rehabilitation efforts (e.g., attending rehab, writing sincere apologies, and demonstrating compliance).{{footnote}}Criminal Justice Researchinet article and sources available at [[criminal-justice.iresearchnet.com>>https://criminal-justice.iresearchnet.com/criminal-justice-process/sentencing-and-punishment/factors-influencing-sentencing-decisions/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]]{{/footnote}}
51 51  1*. Defendants who actively participate in drug testing, attend counseling, and show respect in court receive lighter sentences.
52 52  1. **Conclusion**:
53 53  
54 -1.
55 +1.
55 55  1*. Sentencing outcomes are shaped by individual behavior post-arrest. Racial disparities arise not from systemic racism but from differences in voluntary actions and opportunities.
56 56  
57 57  ----
... ... @@ -60,17 +60,17 @@
60 60  
61 61  1. **Revocation Rates**:
62 62  
63 -1.
64 +1.
64 64  1*. Black probationers have significantly higher revocation rates than White probationers:
65 65  1**. In Iowa, Black probationers had a **32% revocation rate**, compared to **18% for Whites**{{footnote}}Jannetta, J., et al. (2014) Examining Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Probation Revocation[[Summary Findings and Implications from a Multisite Study>>https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/22746/413174-Examining-Racial-and-Ethnic-Disparities-in-Probation-Revocation.PDF]]{{/footnote}}
66 66  1*. Non-compliance with probation terms (e.g., missed meetings or technical violations) heavily influences revocation.
67 67  1. **Factors Influencing Violations**:
68 68  
69 -1.
70 +1.
70 70  1*. Probationers with limited resources often struggle to meet probation requirements (e.g., paying fees or attending mandated appointments).
71 71  1. **Conclusion**:
72 72  
73 -1.
74 +1.
74 74  1*. Disparities in probation outcomes are more likely tied to behavioral differences and structural barriers than racial bias within the system.
75 75  
76 76  ----
... ... @@ -79,22 +79,22 @@
79 79  
80 80  1. **Key Findings**:
81 81  
82 -1.
83 +1.
83 83  1*. Women receive shorter sentences than men for equivalent offenses:
84 84  1**. Female offenders’ sentences are, on average, **28-30% shorter** across racial groups.{{footnote}}Department of Justice Report [[Defense Counsel in Criminal Cases>>https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/dccc.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com]]{{/footnote}}
85 85  1*. Judges view women as less culpable and more rehabilitative, prioritizing family or caregiving roles over punishment.
86 86  1. **Conclusion**:
87 87  
88 -1.
89 +1.
89 89  1*. The justice system shows leniency based on perceived societal roles. This reveals that disparities in sentencing are not always about race and can reflect broader biases unrelated to systemic racism.
90 90  
91 91  ----
92 92  
93 -== Treatment Completion Rates {{id name="treatment-completion-rates"/}} ==
94 +== Treatment Completion Rates ==
94 94  
95 95  1. **Substance Abuse Treatment Completion**:
96 96  
97 -In this study{{footnote}}Arndt S, et al. ’How the states stack up: Disparities in substance abuse outpatient treatment completion rates for minorities[[Drug and Alcohol Dependence>>https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376871613001105]]{{/footnote}}[Arndt, 2013], the authors explored disparities in outpatient treatment completion rates.
98 +In this study{{footnote}}Arndt S, et al. ’How the states stack up: Disparities in substance abuse outpatient treatment completion rates for minorities[[Drug and Alcohol Dependence>>https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376871613001105]]{{/footnote}}, the authors explored disparities in outpatient treatment completion rates.
98 98  
99 99  
100 100  ----
... ... @@ -103,18 +103,18 @@
103 103  
104 104  1. **Key Critique**:
105 105  
106 -1.
107 +1.
107 107  1*. Systemic racism narratives often rely on circular reasoning:
108 108  1**. Higher rates of substance abuse, poverty, and criminal activity are attributed to systemic inequities.
109 109  1**. These inequities are then blamed for harsher sentencing outcomes without addressing the behaviors and choices that directly affect sentencing.
110 110  1. **Logical Flaws**:
111 111  
112 -1.
113 +1.
113 113  1*. This reasoning ignores how disparities can emerge naturally from socioeconomic differences, individual behavior, and judicial discretion without requiring systemic bias.
114 114  
115 115  ----
116 116  
117 -== **Conclusion** {{id name="conclusion"/}} ==
118 +== **Conclusion** ==
118 118  
119 119  Sentencing disparities are better explained by individual actions, socioeconomic realities, and systemic constraints than by systemic racism. Wealth disparities, voluntary behavior, and program compliance play a much larger role in shaping outcomes. By addressing these underlying issues—rather than assuming racism as the primary cause—the justice system can move toward more effective and equitable solutions.
120 120