County Level Contextual Factors and Death Sentence Outcomes

• In Event: Considering Context in Capital Punishment

Abstract

An extensive body of research has shown that although sentencing outcomes are to be based solely on legal factors, many decisions are influenced by extra-legal factors as well. Race and gender of the victim in particular have been found to effect sentencing outcomes, with more severe sanctions enacted on those who offend against whites and females. Less is known, however, about the effect of county level contextual factors on these sentencing decisions, especially in regard to capital punishment cases. Using data from the North Carolina Sentencing Project and the North Carolina County Characteristics Project, the current study presents an examination of the effect of county level contextual factors on the likelihood of receiving the death penalty for the homicide of a white female in North Carolina between 1977 and 2009.

Authors

• Anna Kleppe, University of Missouri - Saint Louis

• Caitlyn Meade, University of South Florida

• Christian Jordan Howell, University of South Florida

• John Cochran, University of South Florida

• M. Dwayne Smith, University of South Florida

• Beth Bjerregaard, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

• Sondra Fogel, University of South Florida