A Replication Study of Sentence Dispositions in a Rural University Community.

摘要

A two-year (1975-76) case file study of 74 students and 81 non-students was researched for this study. Two categories of misdemeanor offenses were used for research, shoplifting and driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The purpose of this study was to replicate a study completed by Raymond L. Miller at Washington State University to determine if there was variation in sentencing by reference to student, non-student status. Seven categories of sentencing were studied: (1) hard time (time actually served), (2) fine (monies paid), (3) community service (hours spent working for the city), (4) probation time, (5) deferred prosecution (prosecution not pursued if a person sought treatment and did not recividate for a specified period of time), (6) suspended hard time, (7) suspended fine. The hypothesis used was developed by Miller, that the sentencing of the student population of the community would be consistent with the sentencing of the non-student population of the community for the two categories of crime selected for research. A weighted scale was devised for each sentence category and a proportion that represented the actual sentence was obtained. A two-sample t test was run to compare the means obtained for each sentence category. (Author)