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American Economic Review: Vol. 102 No. 3 (May 2012)

AER Volume. 102, Issue 3 | Previous ArticleNext Article

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Race and Gender Differences under Federal Sentencing Guidelines

Article Citation

Sorensen, Todd, Supriya Sarnikar, and Ronald L. Oaxaca. 2012. "Race and Gender Differences under Federal Sentencing Guidelines." American Economic Review, 102(3): 256-60.

DOI: 10.1257/aer.102.3.256

Abstract

Using data from the United States Sentencing Commission, we examine how judicial biases may have influenced sentences during the era of the Federal criminal sentencing guidelines. Our utility maximization model of judicial sentencing preferences leads to a partially censored ordered probit model that accounts for mass points in the sentencing distribution that occur at the upper and lower guideline limits and at sentences involving no prison time. Our results indicate that racial- and gender-based discrepancies exist, even after controlling for circumstances such as the severity of the offense and past criminal history.

Article Full-Text Access

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Authors

Sorensen, Todd (U CA, Riverside)
Sarnikar, Supriya (Westfield State U)
Oaxaca, Ronald L. (U AZ)

JEL Classifications

J15: Economics of Minorities, Races, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
J16: Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
K42: Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law