Impact of race, age, and crime type on public impressions of juvenile transfer and sentencing of female defendants

Jeanne Perry McPhee

doi:10.17918/00001002

During the 1980s and 90s, dramatic increases in youth arrests for violent offenses caused public fear to increase and, in turn, created the opportunity for widespread legislation that broadened the parameters for juveniles to be transferred to the criminal justice system. Though the rates of violent offenses and juvenile crime more generally have significantly declined, the rates of juvenile transfer have not changed. Previous research examining public perceptions of juvenile defendants has found that varying the legally-relevant and extralegal characteristics of defendants complicates the public opinion findings. The current study sought to address the gaps in existing research by examining a female defendant's age and race, and the type of offense committed on public opinion of the transfer and sentencing of girls transferred to criminal court. Additionally, this study examined potential explanatory factors for such perceptions based on key factors considered by judges and prosecutors. While no effects of defendant race were seen, participants rated the appropriateness of transfer as significantly less for younger girls than older defendants; they also believed that it was significantly less appropriate to transfer girls who committed nonviolent or indirectly violent crimes than those who committed violent crimes. Participants more frequently recommended incarceration for adult defendants than they did for juveniles and for those who committed assaults than for those who committed nonviolent or indirectly violent crimes. Participants recommended significantly longer sentences for adult defendants than for minors as well as for those who committed a directly violent crime than for those who committed other types of crimes. Race was not seen to significantly affect participants' responses on any variables. Mediation analyses revealed that Kent criteria significantly mediated the relationship between the age of the juvenile defendant and participants' perceptions of the appropriateness of transferring the defendant's case to criminal court as well as the relationship between crime type committed and appropriateness of transfer. Finally, participants' beliefs about the role of race in mass incarceration did not moderate the effects of defendant's race on appropriateness of transfer. Findings from this study indicate that certain legal characteristics affect public perception on the use of juvenile transfer and the public's sentencing recommendations. Policy and practice implications will be discussed, including considering targeted reforms informed by public perception.

Impact of race, age, and crime type on public impressions of juvenile transfer and sentencing of female defendants

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Impact of race, age, and crime type on public impressions of juvenile transfer and sentencing of female defendants

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