Equity Theory, Discretionary Sentencing, and Attitudes toward the Legal System

Summary

Ss read an abstract of a crime involving embezzlement, and after being informed that the defendant had been found guilty, were also informed of the sentence imposed by the trial judge on the defendant (normative in length or more severe or lenient than normative). The rehabilitative potential of the defendant was also varied (unknown, favorable, or unfavorable). Ss' impressions of the trial judge, their respect for courts of law, and their perceptions that justice had been served were then assessed. The results support an equity theory prediction and have implications for the debate on discretionary versus mandatory sentencing practices.