Introduction to the criminal justice system: Principles, procedures, practice : by Gerald D. Robin. Harper & Row Publishers (10 East 53rd Street, New York, New York 10022), 1980, 558 pp., hardcover—$15.95

Abstract

While various perspectives have been offered to explain why females might be treated more leniently by the court system than males, very few studies have investigated sex-based disparities at stages of case processing prior to sentencing. Therefore, we examine outcomes at pretrial release and sentencing and investigate for cumulative disadvantage across the criminal court system.A sample of felony cases referred to the Prosecutor’s Office of a large northern urban jurisdiction in the United States during calendar year 2009 were analyzed and included violent, property, and drug offenses.In general, it was found that females were treated more leniently by the court system, although specific groups of female defendants were found to experience cumulative disadvantage across the criminal court system.While support for the chivalry/paternalism perspective was found, it is suggested that scholars revisit the many perspectives currently put forth to explain sex-based disparities.