The Unintended consequences of sentencing reforms: Using social chain theory to examine racial disparities in Female imprisonment

ABSTRACT

The current study uses social chain theory to examine the potential unintended effects of sentencing reforms on racial disparities in female imprisonment. Our analysis measures changes in the relative odds of Black to White female imprisonment using the Relative Rate Index (RRI) through panel regression modeling on 40 states from 1983 to 2008. Our final models indicate that four types of sentencing reforms had unintended perverse effects on racial disparities in prison admissions while Truth in Sentencing laws increased racial disparities in time-served. Eighteen combinations of sentencing reforms also significantly impacted disparities. Theoretical and policy implications are also discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Female imprisonment
• racial disparity
• sentencing reforms
• women offenders

Note

Notes

1. Potter (2015) suggested a preferred term for women who identify as Black or African American is “women of Color.” Crenshaw (1991) used the same term interchangeably with “Black women” in her seminal piece.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Breanna Boppre

Breanna Boppre works at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Department of Criminal Justice in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Mark G. Harmon

Mark G. Harmon works in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon, USA.