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LEGAL DISPOSITION OF INTER-GROUP AND INTRA-GROUP HOMICIDES

NCJ Number
60463
Journal
Sociological Quarterly Volume: 19 Dated: (AUTUMN 1978) Pages: 565-576
Author(s)
R A FARRELL; V L SWIGERT
Date Published
1978
Length
12 pages
Annotation
RESULTS ARE REPORTED FROM A STUDY OF THE DISPOSITIONS IN INTER AND INTRA-GROUP HOMICIDE CASES TO DETERMINE THE IMPACT ON DECISIONS OF THE SEX AND OCCUPATIONAL STATUS COMBINATIONS OF VICTIM-OFFENDER PAIRS.
Abstract
DISCRIMINANT ANALYSIS OF DATA ON 444 DEFENDANTS AND 432 VICTIMS INDICATES THAT MALES ACCUSED OF SLAYING FEMALES RECEIVE THE MOST SEVERE DISPOSITIONS, WHILE FEMALES HELD IN THE DEATH OF MALES ARE NOTICEABLY UNDERPENALIZED. FINAL CONVICTIONS ARE MOST SEVERE FOR LOW STATUS DEFENDANTS ALLEGED TO HAVE MURDERED HIGH STATUS VICTIMS. CONTRARY TO EARLIER STUDIES, THERE ARE NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN LEGAL TREATMENT IN TERMS OF THE RACIAL COMBINATIONS OF THE OFFENDER-VICTIM PAIR. THESE RESULTS MAY BE INTERPRETED TO MEAN THAT A POPULAR IMAGERY IS OPERATIVE WHICH VIEWS MALES AND MEMBERS OF THE LOWER CLASSES AS MOST PRONE TO CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. AS A CONSEQUENCE THEY ARE MORE SEVERELY PUNISHED. THIS PATTERN IS AMPLIFIED WHEN THE VICTIMS OF SUCH OFFENDERS DO NOT CARRY THE SAME IMAGES. BECAUSE WOMEN DO NOT CONFORM TO THE IMAGERY OF CRIMINALITY, THEIR SEX BECOMES A MITIGATING FACTOR WHEN THEY ARE DEFENDANTS IN HOMICIDE CASES AND AN AGGRAVATING CONDITION WHEN THEY ARE VICTIMS. VICTIMS WITH HIGH OCCUPATIONAL STATUS ARE VIEWED AS GOOD CITIZENS AND MORALLY SUPERIOR. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)

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