Early research on the role of race and ethnicity in criminal sentencing was more descriptive than theoretical. The methodologies involved in early studies were weak, and when theoretical explanations were offered, they often entailed unsophisticated notions of individual prejudice and racial discrimination. ... They concluded, after taking into account legally relevant variables such as defendant criminal history and offense seriousness, that Black and Hispanic defendants were generally sentenced more harshly than white defendants. ... This movement was part of a broader shift toward formali...

• Word Count: 2620
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Graduate