Western Michigan University ScholarWorks at WMU Dissertations Graduate College 12-1991 The Criminal Justice System: The Impact of Legal and Extra-Legal Variables Sanderson Charles Jeter Western Michigan University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations Part of the Sociology Commons Recommended Citation Jeter, Sanderson Charles, "The Criminal Justice System: The Impact of Legal and Extra-Legal Variables" (1991). Dissertations. 2004. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/2004 This Dissertation-Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate College at ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: THE IMPACT OF LEGAL AND EXTRA-LEGAL VARIABLES by Sanderson Charles Jeter A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of The Graduate College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Sociology Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan December 1991 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: THE IMPACT OF LEGAL AND EXTRA-LEGAL VARIABLES Sanderson Charles Jeter, Ph.D. Western Michigan University, 1991 This dissertation examines the effect of legal and extra-legal variables on the processing and sentencing outcomes of defendants. The data for this study were extracted from the case files of Kalamazoo (Michigan) County Circuit Court. The sample population is comprised of criminal defendants randomly selected and who were processed in the cir­ cuit court from May, 1987 through May, 1988. The statistical procedure applied was cross - tabulation, utilizing a chi-square measure of associa­ tion. Legal and extra-legal variables independently and collectively have different effects on the processing and sentencing outcomes of de­ fendants. Results indicate that legal variables (e.g., type of crime and prior record) impact more significantly than extra-legal variables (e.g., race and age) on the processing and sentencing of defendants in the Kalamazoo County Circuit Court. Recommendations for future studies are proposed. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. 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Contact UMI directly to order. University Microfilms International A Bell & Howell Information Company 300 North Zeeb Road. Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 313/761-4700 800/521-0600 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Order Number 9216461 The criminal justice system: The impact of legal and extra-legal variables Jeter, Sanderson Charles, Ph.D. Western Michigan University, 1991 Copyright ©1991 by Jeter, Sanderson Charles. All rights reserved. UMI 300 N. Zeeb Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48106 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Copyright by Sanderson Charles Jeter 1991 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my gratitude to my dissertation committee, Drs. Lewis Walker, Edward Pawlak, and Paul C. Friday, for the guidance they provided throughout the writing of this dissertation. Dr. Walker, my chairperson, has been supportive during my graduate studies and guided me through the dissertation process. I would also like to take this opportunity to give my thanks to others who have assisted me: To my family (Dot, Derek, and Sharlee) whose love and understand­ ing provided the environment that encouraged the self-confidence for achievement; To Shaghil Husain for being supportive and helping me to analyze my data; To Karen Rice for typing my drafts and being patient enough to work through my numerous revisions; and To my mother who would be proud that her son continues the process of learning and achieving. Sanderson Charles Jeter ii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS................................................ ii LIST OF TABLES.................................................. vii CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION AND STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM.................. 1 Introduction........................................... 1 Statement of the Problem............................... 1 Summary................................................ 9 II. LITERATURE REVIEW.......................................... 11 Legal Defense of Indigent Defendants................... 11 Legal Defense of Indigent Defendants and Outcome....... 17 Extra-Legal Variables and Outcome....................... 18 Indigency Status and Bail.............................. 22 Summary................................................ 24 III. METHODS.................................................... 26 Introduction........................................... 26 Population and Sample.................................. 27 Source of Data......................................... 28 Variables.............................................. 30 Dependent Variable: Sentencing Outcome............. 30 Independent Variables: Legal and Extra-Legal........ 31 Legal Variables: Type of Crime, Prior Offense, Bond, Plea....................................... 31 iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Table of Contents--Continued CHAPTER Social Variables: Race, Age, Gender, Employment Status, Marital Status............... 34 Statistical Procedures................................. 36 Summary................................................ 38 IV. FINDINGS.................................................. 4° Description of Sample.................................. 40 Answers to the Research Questions...................... 44 Race and Type of Crime.............................. 45 Race and Prior Record, Plea and Type of Bond....... 46 Age and Type of Crime,.. Plea........................ 47 Age and Type of Bond................................ 50 Gender and Type of Crime............................ 50 Employment Status and Type of Crime................ 50 Employment Status and Type of Bond................. 52 Marital Status and Type of Crime................... 53 Marital Status and Type of Bond.................... 55 Type of Crime and Bond Posted....................... 55 Prior Record and Bond............................... 56 Plea and Count by Type of Crime.................... 61 Type of Sentence by Type of Offense................ 66 Length of Sentence by Type of Offense.............. 68 Type of Sentence by Prior Record................... 68 Type of Sentencing and Plea....................... 68 iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Table of Concents--Continued CHAPTER Posted Bond and Sentencing.......................... 72 Sentencing Patterns by Race......................... 79 Type of Sentence and Type of Crime by Race......... 79 Type of Sentence and Primary Charge by Race: Controlling for "Yes" on Prior Record.............. 80 Type of Sentence and Primary Charge by Race: Controlling for "No” on Prior Record............... 83 Length of Sentence and Type of Crime by Race: Controlling for "Yes" on Prior Record.............. 84 Length of Sentence and Type of Crime by Race: Controlling for "No" on Prior Record............... 88 Length of Sentence and Type of Crime by Race (Males Only): Controlling for "Yes/No" on Prior Record........................................ 89 Sentence by Age.................................... 89 Sentence by Gender................................. 93 Sentence by Employment Status....................... 93 Sentence by Marital Status.......................... 94 V. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS.................................. 97 Summary...............................................