An intersectional approach to race/ethnicity, sex, and age disparity in federal sentencing outcomes: An examination of policy across time periods

Approaches to intersectionality stress the importance of recognizing multiple, intersecting inequalities. As such, recent sentencing research has examined the changing role of extra-legal characteristics on United States federal sentencing outcomes in the aftermath of recent policy changes (e.g. United States v. Booker), but scholarship has less often examined these characteristics at the intersections of race/ethnicity, gender, and, especially age. This article uses an intersectional approach to examine the influence of these characteristics net of legally relevant characteristics. Using ordinary least squares regression procedures, the author examines the role of the joint effects of extra-legal variables on sentence length decisions across four distinct time periods. Net of control variables, results indicate that young black men are the group most likely to receive the longest sentences, but interesting differences between other groups also emerge.

Download Full-text

Federal Sentencing Guidelines and United States v. Booker: Social Context and Sentencing Disparity

Criminal Justice Policy Review ◽

10.1177/0887403415619987 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 45-66 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jeffrey S. Nowacki

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Sentence Length ◽

Sentencing Guidelines ◽

Aggregate Level ◽

Political Climate ◽

Individual Level ◽

Federal Sentencing Guidelines ◽

Federal Sentencing ◽

Race Ethnicity ◽

Sentencing Outcomes

The United States v. Booker decision rendered Federal Sentencing Guidelines advisory rather than mandatory. In the context of this decision, this study examines both the direct influence of aggregate-level political, community, and administrative variables on sentencing outcomes, and the way that such characteristics might contextualize individual-level predictors. Using multi-level regression techniques, this study examines the role of aggregate-level variables on sentence length decisions across four distinct time periods. Moreover, this article also examines whether aggregate-level variables condition the effects of race/ethnicity on sentencing outcomes. Whereas the direct effects of aggregate-level variables on sentencing outcomes are generally limited to political climate effects, there is evidence that political climate and other aggregate-level measures contextualize individual-level race/ethnicity effects. Future research should seek to better understand the specific mechanisms behind these relationships.

Download Full-text

Trends in Sentencing of Federal Drug Offenders: Findings From U.S. District Courts 2002–2017

Journal of Drug Issues ◽

10.1177/0022042620959071 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (1) ◽

pp. 84-108

Author(s):

Alexander Testa ◽

Jacqueline G. Lee

Keyword(s):

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

District Courts ◽

Least Squares Regression ◽

Prison Sentence ◽

Criminal Sentencing ◽

Drug Offenders ◽

Race Ethnicity ◽

Substantial Heterogeneity ◽

Over Time ◽

Sentencing Outcomes

This study uses 16 years (2002–2017) of federal criminal drug sentences from the U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC) to examine trends in two criminal sentencing outcomes: whether a defendant received a prison sentence and the length of a prison sentence. Logistic and ordinary least squares regression analyses were used to assess criminal sentencing outcomes. Moderation analyses are conducted to assess variation in sentencing for specific drug offenses over time. Results demonstrate that sentencing for federal drug crimes has become less severe over time. However, there is substantial heterogeneity in sentencing across different drug types, with pharmaceutical opioid cases receiving the least leniency over time regarding the incarceration decision and methamphetamine cases experiencing the lowest reduction in the length of prison sentences from 2002 to 2017. Finally, our analysis stratified by race/ethnicity suggested that there is heterogeneity in sentencing outcomes for federal drug offenders, conditional on racial and ethnic background.

Download Full-text

A Good Sentencing Precedent is Hard to Find

Federal Sentencing Reporter ◽

10.1525/fsr.2020.32.3.138 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 138-144

Author(s):

Brian A. Jacobs

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Significant Role ◽

College Admissions ◽

The Body ◽

Federal Law ◽

Criminal Cases ◽

Federal Sentencing

In federal criminal cases, federal law requires that judges consider the sentences other courts have imposed in factually similar matters. Courts and parties, however, face significant challenges in finding applicable sentencing precedents because judges do not typically issue written sentencing opinions, and transcripts of sentencings are not readily available in advanced searchable databases. At the same time, particularly since the Supreme Court’s 2005 decision in United States v. Booker, sentencing precedent has come to play a significant role in federal sentencing proceedings. By way of example, this article discusses recent cases involving defendants with gambling addictions, and recent cases involving college admissions or testing fraud. The article explores the ways the parties in those cases have used sentencing precedent in their advocacy, as well as the ways the courts involved have used sentencing precedent to justify their decisions. Given the important role of sentencing precedent in federal criminal cases, the article finally looks at ways in which the body of sentencing law could be made more readily available to parties and courts alike.

Download Full-text

Exploring consumers' response to text-based chatbots in e-commerce: the moderating role of task complexity and chatbot disclosure

Internet Research ◽

10.1108/intr-08-2020-0460 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Xusen Cheng ◽

Ying Bao ◽

Alex Zarifis ◽

Wankun Gong ◽

Jian Mou

Keyword(s):

Task Complexity ◽

Deep Understanding ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

Survey Method ◽

Least Squares Regression ◽

Moderating Effects ◽

Content Type ◽

Identity Disclosure ◽

The Relationship

PurposeArtificial intelligence (AI)-based chatbots have brought unprecedented business potential. This study aims to explore consumers' trust and response to a text-based chatbot in e-commerce, involving the moderating effects of task complexity and chatbot identity disclosure.Design/methodology/approachA survey method with 299 useable responses was conducted in this research. This study adopted the ordinary least squares regression to test the hypotheses.FindingsFirst, the consumers' perception of both the empathy and friendliness of the chatbot positively impacts their trust in it. Second, task complexity negatively moderates the relationship between friendliness and consumers' trust. Third, disclosure of the text-based chatbot negatively moderates the relationship between empathy and consumers' trust, while it positively moderates the relationship between friendliness and consumers' trust. Fourth, consumers' trust in the chatbot increases their reliance on the chatbot and decreases their resistance to the chatbot in future interactions.Research limitations/implicationsAdopting the stimulus–organism–response (SOR) framework, this study provides important insights on consumers' perception and response to the text-based chatbot. The findings of this research also make suggestions that can increase consumers' positive responses to text-based chatbots.Originality/valueExtant studies have investigated the effects of automated bots' attributes on consumers' perceptions. However, the boundary conditions of these effects are largely ignored. This research is one of the first attempts to provide a deep understanding of consumers' responses to a chatbot.

Download Full-text

Profiles in workplace giving: a cluster analysis of ‘types’ of givers within a public university

Voluntary Sector Review ◽

10.1332/204080521x16359450188693 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Jorge Ruiz-Menjivar ◽

Tracy Johns ◽

Tara Counts ◽

Yong Liu ◽

Jennifer Amanda Jones

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Cluster Analysis ◽

The United States ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

Public University ◽

Strategic Marketing ◽

Public Employees ◽

Least Squares Regression ◽

Job Classification ◽

Employment Duration

This study examines public employees’ donations to a workplace giving campaign at a large public university in the south-east of the United States. First, we employed logistic regression to predict the likelihood of donating through workplace giving programmes using a sample of employees at a large public university (N = 11,726). Second, we estimated an ordinary least squares regression to identify the significant predictors of donation value with a subsample of employee donors (n=1,832). Third, we developed donor profiles (for example, clusters) of employee benefactors using K-medoids clustering. Factors such as sex, age, education and salary were significant predictors of both being a donor and the donation amount. Additionally, employment duration was significantly related to being a donor and the donation amount, while job classification only predicted being a donor. Employee donors fell into five distinct clusters. These findings contribute to our knowledge of workplace giving campaigns and can be used to develop strategic marketing campaigns.

Download Full-text

Entrepreneurship and economic growth: does gender matter?

International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship ◽

10.1108/ijge-04-2021-0056 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Sarah R. Crane

Keyword(s):

Economic Growth ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

Cultural Barriers ◽

Entrepreneurial Firms ◽

Least Squares Regression ◽

Content Type ◽

World Survey ◽

Country Analysis

PurposeEntrepreneurial firms contribute to economic growth, but the potential gendered nature of this contribution must be investigated as outcomes of male-owned and female-owned firms differ. The study investigates the female underperformance hypothesis in a cross-country analysis of Schumpeterian entrepreneurs. Next, it investigates if there is a gendered dimension of Schumpeterian firm contribution to economic growth.Design/methodology/approachThe study utilizes both nonparametric and parametric methodologies. Through nonparametric methods, the success of female-owned and male-owned firms is compared. Next, a parametric ordinary least squares regression model tests if there is a gendered nature of an entrepreneurial firm's economic contribution.FindingsIn nonparametric analyses, female-owned entrepreneurial firms in developed countries perform similarly to male-owned firms, while in developing countries male-owned firms significantly outperform female-owned firms. The author also finds strong evidence that the gender of the Schumpeterian entrepreneur does not matter in the contribution in economic growth.Research limitations/implicationsIn all countries, the number of female-owned entrepreneurial firms was significantly lower than that of male-owned firms. The findings point to consistent cultural barriers for women in innovation-related fields and persistent gendered norms in entrepreneurship. Thus, removal of cultural barriers and continued support for Schumpeterian entrepreneurship will benefit women and contribute to a country's economic growth.Originality/valueThe data for this study is a unique utilization of the Enterprise World Survey to identify Schumpeterian entrepreneurial firms. Additionally, the study challenges the female underperformance hypothesis and contributes to the literature on the role of entrepreneurship in economic growth.

Download Full-text

Media exposure to COVID-19 information, risk perception, social and geographical proximity, and self-rated anxiety in China

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-020-09761-8 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Miao Liu ◽

Hongzhong Zhang ◽

Hui Huang

Keyword(s):

Risk Perceptions ◽

Media Exposure ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

Anxiety Level ◽

Geographical Proximity ◽

Least Squares Regression ◽

Chinese People ◽

Online Panel ◽

The Media

Abstract Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emerging infectious disease that spreads around the world. The lack of effective antiviral drugs and vaccines, along with the relatively high mortality rate and high contagiousness, has raised strong public concerns over COVID-19, especially for people living in the most severely affected areas. This study aimed to clarify the influencing factors for the anxiety level among the Chinese people during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a particular focus on the media exposure to different COVID-19 information. Methods A total of 4991 respondents were randomly recruited from a national online panel from February 12th, 2020 to February 14th, 2020, a period when the number of COVID-19 cases surpassed 10,000 in a single day, with the total cases in China reaching up to 90,000. The relationships between media exposure of COVID-19 information, social and geographical proximity to COVID-19, risk perceptions were assessed using hierarchical ordinary least squares regression analysis. Results The media exposure to COVID-19 information was differently associated with anxiety. Meanwhile, the anxiety level was found to be high in respondents who personally knew someone infected with COVID-19 or those who living in an area with reported cases. Respondents who perceived more risks also reported a higher level of anxiety. Conclusions This study highlights the role of media exposure in affecting individuals’ anxiety level during the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides, it is recommended that government and health professionals are recommended to adopt effective risk communication strategies to protect citizens’ mental health during the pandemic.

Download Full-text

Reconciling temporal conflicts in innovation ambidexterity: the role of TMT temporal leadership

Journal of Knowledge Management ◽

10.1108/jkm-10-2019-0555 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 (8) ◽

pp. 1899-1920

Author(s):

Jiawen Chen ◽

Linlin Liu

Keyword(s):

Regression Models ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

Least Squares Regression ◽

Exploration And Exploitation ◽

Temporal Perspective ◽

Content Type ◽

Temporal Aspects ◽

Positive Effect ◽

Practical Implications

Purpose This study aims to extend the temporal perspective on ambidexterity by investigating how and under what conditions top management team (TMT) temporal leadership improves innovation ambidexterity. Design/methodology/approach Using a questionnaire survey, data were collected from 165 small- and medium-sized enterprises in China. Ordinary least squares regression models were applied to test the hypotheses. Findings The findings show that TMT temporal leadership has a positive effect on innovation ambidexterity and temporal conflict mediates this relationship. Market dynamism and institutional support moderate the indirect effect of TMT temporal leadership on innovation ambidexterity. Practical implications Managers wishing to promote exploration and exploitation simultaneously should pay attention to the temporal aspects of their innovation strategy and improve their temporal leadership activities. Originality/value This study highlights the temporal conflicts in ambidexterity and clarifies the enabling role of TMT temporal leadership. It contributes new insights to the research on organizational ambidexterity and strategic leadership.

Download Full-text