Conviction data from a sample of 1,034 female defendants are explored to estimate the effects of (1) economic rank, (2) prior criminal record, (3) age, and (4) employment status, controlling for the offense of conviction, on the severity of criminal court dispositions. It was found that the likelihood of a woman receiving a harsh sentence increases if she is either economically disadvantaged or has been subject to previous legal control. Black women convicted of either disturbing the peace or of drug law violations were sentenced more severely than their white counterparts, and lower income women convicted of forgery received the more severe sentences. Further, welfare recipients received relatively severe sentences. Thus, the analyses indicate that women's various social characteristics are good predictors of the nature and extent of their sentences and that indicators of respectability and stratification/social integration contribute most to explaining these criminal court dispositions. Over 50 references and footnotes are given. Tabular data are also provided. (Author abstract modified)