Using the focal concerns perspective, the current study examines the factors that affect probation officersâ recommendations and the effect these recommendations have on final sentencing decisions. Results indicate that there is a high level of agreement between probation officersâ recommendations and final sentencing decisions. When judges depart from recommendations, departures are most often upward, with judges sentencing defendants to a harsher penalty. Although it was predicted that the variables that construct the perceptual shorthand would have a greater influence on judgesâ decisions than on probation officersâ recommendations, this was only partially supported by the findings. Final sentence outcomes appeared to be more directly influenced by race than the probation officersâ recommendations. Instead of having a direct effect, race affected probation officersâ recommendations through income and education. The implications of these findings are further discussed.View full textDownload full textKeywordspresentence investigation reports, focal concerns, sentencing, racial disparityRelated var addthis_config = { ui_cobrand: "Taylor & Francis Online", services_compact: "citeulike,netvibes,twitter,technorati,delicious,linkedin,facebook,stumbleupon,digg,google,more", pubid: "ra-4dff56cd6bb1830b" }; Add to shortlist Link Permalink http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0735648X.2011.554746
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