Gender and ethnic bias in sentencing - a study using Brazilian microdata
Lead Research Organisation:
Lancaster University
Department Name: Mathematics and Statistics
Abstract
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Organisations
Publications
Ignacio Cano (Author)
(2010)
Gender and racial bias in sentencing : a Brazilian study
Ignacio Cano (Author)
(2010)
Gender and racial bias in sentencing : a comparative perspective
Leslie Humphreys (Author)
(2011)
Gender and racial bias in sentencing in Brazil
in european society of Criminology
| Description | We have contributed knowledge to the academic debate on the racial democracy in Brazil, and contributed both methodological and substantive knowledge to the sentencing research community Four formal conference presentations have been made and two working papers written, which are available on our project web site. The research outcomes have been achieved by secondary analysis of court-based Brazilian data from the state of Rio de Janeiro, combining and linking four distinct databases together. The data was analysed using a novel technique in criminology - a crossed multi-level model. We were careful to control for a wide range of background variables. We have also trained 16 Brazilian researchers in appropriate quantitative methods for criminologists, and set up a suitable network so that they can communicate with each other and with us. We have interested a research student in the topic of equality and bias in sentencing, and have been working with her so that she uses and develops the methodological approaches used in this research. Finally, we have constructed a website www.crimestatsnetwork.org. in which the results and methodology of the approach can be disseminated. There have been two major findings - one methodological and one substantive arising out of this research. The methodological finding has been in the use and promotion of a form of statistical model - the crossed mixed effects model which has not been used for sentencing research up until now. Such models have been developed in the educational setting, but are unusual in criminology. Briefly, the model allows for additional levels of random variability as well as the sentence to sentence variability - these are individual and court. As individuals do not stay within one court, but progress through a series of courts, a special form of multi-level model is needed. The substantive finding has been to identify that there is no evidence of racial bias in the sentences delivered by the courts up to 2006. There was however some evidence of gender bias, with sentences for women discounted by about 3% compared to a sentence for an equivalent male Additionally, there was also no evidence of bias according to educational level and bias according to marital status. Finally , we compared the results of the sentencing analysis with an analysis of survey data on perceptions of bias in the Brazilian criminal justice system. |
| Exploitation Route | We are hopeful that the MoJ will be interested in our work on UK sentencing bias, the analysis of which can be tracked back to methodology developed in this research project. While this is a two-steps removed impact, it will hopefully demonstrate that methodology development combined with an important substantive problem can yield impact on other pieces of research. |
| Sectors | Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Description | There has been impact to three specific groups. Firstly Brazilian researchers and criminal justice professionals have been informed about the research through the network e-mail list. Secondly, the ESC working group on sentencing research has been involved in the discussions on methodology and results used in the ESRC research, and will contribute to future research of the working group/ Thirdly, the methodological approach will be used by a Lancaster research student supervised by Humphreys and Cano, with the aim of persuading the MOJ that methodology such as ours is the correct approach to follow in examining sentencing bias. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2012 |
| Sector | Education,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Impact Types | Societal,Policy & public services |
| Description | Talk at american society of criminology cpmference on Gender and Racial Bias in Sentencing: A Brazilian Study |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Enbgagement with american reserchers and the Race and justice group at the ASC |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | short course in quantitative criminology in Rio de Janeiro. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 25 practictioners across Brazil attended a two day short course on quantitative criminology run be the research team. A mailing list network was set up . criminologiaquantitativa@googlegroups.com |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |