Exploring methods to investigate sentencing decisions.

Merrall, EL, Dhami, MK and Bird, SM (2010) Exploring methods to investigate sentencing decisions. Eval Rev, 34 (3). pp. 185-219.

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Abstract

The determinants of sentencing are of much interest in criminal justice and legal research. Understanding the determinants of sentencing decisions is important for ensuring transparent, consistent, and justifiable sentencing practice that adheres to the goals of sentencing, such as the punishment, rehabilitation, deterrence, and incapacitation of the offender, as well as reparation for the victim. It is important to frame research questions on sentencing that can feasibly be answered by appropriate research methods, within the constraints of limited time and resources. For illustration, this article presents three methodological approaches for investigating the factors that may influence sentencing decisions: multilevel analysis using existing sentencing data; sampling of, and data collection from, sentenced court case files; and experimental designs involving sentencers deciding on hypothetical cases. The strengths and weaknesses of each approach are compared and discussed.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions :	Surrey research (other units)
Authors :	Name Email ORCID Merrall, EL Dhami, MK m.dhami@surrey.ac.uk Bird, SM
Date :	June 2010
DOI :	10.1177/0193841X10369624
Uncontrolled Keywords :	Adolescent, Adult, Crime, Decision Making, England, Female, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Male, Prisoners, Punishment, Questionnaires, Wales, Young Adult
Depositing User :	Symplectic Elements
Date Deposited :	17 May 2017 09:33
Last Modified :	24 Jan 2020 17:10
URI:	http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/id/eprint/824225

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