Journal article
Rewriting the Record: A Qualitative Analysis of Race, Criminal History, and Sentencing Policy Reform in Pennsylvania
Race and justice, v 16(1), pp 191-213
01 Jan 2026
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Research on courts and sentencing shows an inextricable link between race and criminal history, which is often cited as a key driver of disparities in outcomes. Despite robust academic evidence of the detrimental effects of prior record policies, sentencing commissions and policymakers generally have demonstrated no interest in making changes to sentencing policies to address the disparities that flow from prior record penalty enhancements. One notable exception is the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing whose eighth edition guidelines drastically restructured that system's prior record score (PRS) to reduce the impact of criminal history on punishment recommendations. Rooted in Du Bois's sociological criminology perspective, the current study employs a qualitative analysis of ten years of documentation (2013-2023) to investigate the motivations, challenges, and ultimate achievements of this significant punishment policy reform. Sources of documentation include internal and publicly available reports, presentations, and transcripts from over 50 hours of recorded Commission meetings and public hearings. Findings reveal a lengthy, thoughtful, and at times, challenging journey from initial proposals to the adopted version of PRS. The results have strong implications for policymaking in jurisdictions reconsidering the role of criminal history in punishment and looking to reduce racial and ethnic disparities.
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Details
- Title
- Rewriting the Record: A Qualitative Analysis of Race, Criminal History, and Sentencing Policy Reform in Pennsylvania
- Creators
- C. Clare Strange - Drexel University, Center for Public PolicyRhys Hester - Clemson UniversityJeffrey T. Ulmer - Pennsylvania State UniversityLourdes Moore - Drexel University, English and Philosophy
- Publication Details
- Race and justice, v 16(1), pp 191-213
- Publisher
- Sage
- Number of pages
- 23
- Grant note
- American Society of Criminology in San Francisco, CA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- English and Philosophy; Criminology and Justice Studies; Center for Public Policy
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001539292500001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105012981800
- Other Identifier
- 991022071495004721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Criminology & Penology
- Ethnic Studies