Genevieve Aleman Crime Quiz

Genevieve Aleman

2nd Crime Quiz

SOC111 MW 3:30-4:45

Word Count: 523

Title: The enduring racial divide in death penalty support

By: John K. Cochran and Mitchell B. Chamlin

        This article addresses the racial divide between Blacks and Whites regarding support for the death penalty in the United States. Rather than focusing solely on the disparity between blacks and whites opinions on the death penalty, many other variables are examined in order to get a deeper basis for this continuing divide of opinion. The additional variables that were examined were, socioeconomic statuses, subcultural differences, political ideologies, religious orientations, views on right-to-life, opinions of governmental responsibilities, opinions about racial inequality, personal experience with the criminal justice system, fear of crime/victimization experience, justice attitudes and attribution styles. This study was interested whith to what extent these variables/possible explanations account for the racial difference in death penalty support.

    These variables were studied using three different data sources, which consisted of two local surveys of venirepersons called for jury service in Hillsborough County and a cumulative data set of the NORC General Social Surveys (GSS) from 1972-1996.The authors acknowledge that the data used is at fault of being inappropriate for the use of generalizing since they are second-hand sources, so they insist that this article is primarily exploratory and not a "final word". 

    In relation to the data obtained via GSS this study failed to identify a basis for the racial gap but successful in confirming the existence in an enduring divide, as well as, provide evidence that Black and White support of the death penalty is affected by the same social trends. The data from the two surveys was able to provide evidence that over time, Black and White support has been equally affected by the same social factors. The parallel trend that was identified suggests that the same social factors are shaping Black and White opinions on the death penalty. This conclusion is, as the authors say, an interesting "social fact". 

Title: The impact of light skin on prison time for black female offenders

By: Jill Viglione, Lance Hannon and Robert DeFina

    This article focuses on the impact skin tone has over female prison sentencing and actual time served. The data consisted of inmate records of 12,158 black women from North Carolina from the years of 1995-2009. Although the data is second hand, the large number of subjects made for a very good sample that supplied a variation of characteristics. Inmate records included a description of skin tone on a scale, which allowed researchers to easily study the variable of skin tone. Unfortunately, no photos were included so they had to rely on the description of skin tone that was made by correctional officers. This study took the effort to control seven other factors, which are perceived weight, whether they were arrested while on parole, whether they were convicted as a habitual felon and a few others.

The results of this study support that black woman who have lighter skin receive more lenient prison sentences and serve less actual time. Women with light skin receive about 12% less time behind bars. The actual time behind bars is reduced by 11%. This study also showed that being thin was negatively related to maximum prison sentences. These authors conclude that discrimination exists in the criminal justice system.