Urban Justice, Rural Injustice? Urbanization and Its Effect on Sentencing*

Abstract

Using a sample of felons convicted in Georgia between 1976 and June 1982, this study examines rural‐urban diyerences in sentencing. Consistent with previous research, it is found that ostensibly similar oflenders are punished diflerently, depending on whether they were convicted in urban rather than rural counties. Diyerences in outcomes are based both on social background and on factors of explicit legal relevance. They occur for decisions about the type and duration of punishment. Finally, they persist even when selected correlates and consequences of urbanization are controlled. Unlike earlier research, however, this study finds that urbanization usually intensijes rather than reduces differential treatment. The paper concludes with possible explanations for the particularism that appears to characterize urban rather than rural courts. Also considered are the theoretical and empirical implications of the findings.

Sentencing Outcomes of Convicted Child Sex Offenders

“…Our findings also support past research related to employment and sentencing (Nobiling, Spohn, & DeLone, 1998) showing that socioeconomic factors affect sentencing outcomes. The effects of the urban-rural divide shown in this study also replicate past work on urban/rural differences (Myers & Talarico, 1986).…”

The Effects of Suspect Characteristics on Arrest: A Meta-Analysis

“…The examination of the criminal justice decision making process has a long history of study (see for example, Brown & Frank, 2006;Kramer & Steffensmeier, 1993;Kutateladze, Andiloro, Johnson, & Spohn, 2014;Lundman, 1994;Myers & Talarico, 1986;Novak & Engel, 2005;Piliavin & Briar, 1964;Riksheim & Chermak, 1993;Sherman, 1980;Spohn, 2000;Worden, 1989). Moreover, according to Walker (1992), the American Bar Foundation's field observations were the first attempts to garner some knowledge of the police process and the exercise of discretion in the 1950's.…”

Social context of crime control: a time-series analysis of the Korean case, 1973–2002

“…Information about the proclamation of extraordinary laws came from many historical and chronological 6 See [13,36,37] for unemployment rate. See [13,25,33,39,[47][48][49]60] for economic inequality. Also see [75] for both unemployment rate and economic inequality.…”