Racial Disparities in Federal Sentencing Outcomes: Clarifying the Role of Criminal History

• In Event: Race, Sentencing & Policy

Abstract

Within the race/sentencing literature, prior research has demonstrated that the effect of race on punishment outcomes is often conditioned by other factors, including offender and case characteristics. The conditioning effect of criminal history, however, has received limited attention, and calls for research indicate the need to further this line of work (e.g., Ulmer, 2012). Thus, the present study employs United States Sentencing Commission data to examine if and how the effect of being white, black, Latino/a, Asian, or Native American is conditioned by the extent of offenders’ criminal history. Results reveal a general pattern of disadvantage for offenders of color who have limited criminal history. This disadvantage is eliminated or reversed for offenders who have extensive criminal histories.

Authors

• Tri Keah Henry, Sam Houston State University

• Travis Franklin, Sam Houston State University