Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
The Influence Of Extra-Legal Factors On The Sentencing Of Drug Offenders In A Determinant Sentencing State, Ramonsa D. White
The Influence Of Extra-Legal Factors On The Sentencing Of Drug Offenders In A Determinant Sentencing State, Ramonsa D. White
Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations
The purpose of this study is to investigate how extralegal factors such as race, gender, and age influence judicial sentencing decisions. This research utilizes data collected by the Washington State Sentencing Guidelines Commission for the fiscal years of July 1989 to July 1992. For the purpose o~ this study, only data specifically relating to drug convictions were analyzed.
Multivariate analyses were conducted to see if extralegal factors were significantly related to sentence length, whether or not offenders receive a prison sanction, and whether or not offenders receive the first time offender waiver. Analysis was done using both legal and extra-legal …