Individual Differences in the Sentencing Tendencies of Judges

Abstract

This study was originally undertaken as a project having a much broader scope than that presented in this article. The authors had hoped to carry through an investigation which they had tentatively entitled, A Study of Some Factors Other Than Guilt and Nature of Offense Which Determine the Length of a Prisoner's Sentence. It was their expectation to gather evidence which would show whether or not the severity of a prisoner's sentence was influenced by such factors as: his marital condition, his color, his race, his political affiliations, the judge who sentenced him, the imminence of a re-election or a reappointment of a judge, the age of the prisoner, his religion, general business conditions, etc. Because the authors were unable to secure enough money to carry on such a study it was necessary to stop after data embodying some seven thousand cases had been gathered. It is their hope to be able to continue this project when conditions shall have become more favorable. This article is the first