CRM 100 Final: CRM100 documentary and readings
20 Jun 2018
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Race Matters: Publics views on sentencing
- the public expresses concerns about the leniency of sentences judges give out, but when
presented with a specific case, people are not particularly punitive
- uses a sample of adult Canadians, presents them cases of armed robberies perpetuated by
four people, which were identical except for the racialized identity of the offender
- results revealed that the black offender was rated as being significantly more dangerous
than the white offender and also received a significantly more punitive sentence
- the largest predictor of the sentence was how dangerous respondents viewed the offender.
Part of the desire for a harsher sentence for the black offender likely related to views of
dangerousness
- respondents wanted a significantly harsher sentence for the robbery with a record
scenario than for the robber with a no record scenario
- in the no record scenario, most wanted either one community based sanction or multiple
community based sanction, but the mandatory sentence for a first offence is a minimum
of 5 years
- on average, people wanted a significantly harsher sentence for the black offender in both
scenarios
- respondents viewed the offender with no record as being significantly more dangerous,
more culpable and more likely to reoffend
- respondents viewed the black offender as being significantly more dangerous than the
white offender
- respondents were overall more likely to choose one of the more punitive goals for the
black offender than for the white offender
- women tended to want slightly lenient sentences than other people
- the more dangerous a respondent viewed the offender, the harsher the sentence
- the second strongest predictor was how culpable one viewed the offender- the more
culpable he was for his actions, the harsher the sentence
- the third strongest predictor was the scenario- respondents wanted harsher sentences for
the scenario involving a record
- the offender was the fourth strongest predictor, with the black offender receiving slightly
more punitive sentences than the white offender
- publics attitudes with sentencing- anger over probation, people feel probation is get out of
jail free cards
- article looks at studies done by effects of race on public sentencing
- public has bias towards some sentences
- when Canadians surveyed they say sentences are too light and offenders should be given
tougher sentences
- when researchers show complexities of case, some people who said give them tougher
sentences the people said close sentences to what judges say
- research shows fundamental divide between people
- questions being asked is does race play a role
- hypothesis is race plays a part, Canadians tend to not peak on race and act like decisions
based on race does not exist
- gave 500 people a case
- it was not race that contributed to their decisions but how dangerous that person is
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