Themes in judges' sentencing remarks for male and female domestic murderers
Hall, Guy
Themes in judges' sentencing remarks for male and female domestic murderers Guy Hall, Marion Whittle and Courtney Field - Taylor & Francis, 2016 - Psychiatry, Psychology and Law .
Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 2016, 23(3): 395 - 412
"The aim of this study was to analyse judges' sentencing remarks in cases of domestic murder. In undertaking a qualitative analysis, the methodology of grounded theory was used, and the data emanating from the judges' sentencing remarks identified several major themes as discussed in this article. Broadly speaking, the data reflect that women are viewed more harshly than men and receive higher sentences. In addition, judges are distancing male offenders from their responsibility for their violent conduct, rendering them potential candidates for more lenient treatment in terms of sentence. The analysis also reveals that judges frequently rely on stereotypes and traditional notions of marriage, family and femininity in determining an offender's sentence. These assumptions are embedded in the different set of descriptors used by judges to describe male and female offenders." (Authors' abstract). Sentencing remarks for domestic murder cases between 2002 and 2010 from Victoria and New South Wales in Australia were chosen for the analysis. Record #5576
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
HOMICIDE
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE
JUSTICE
MEN
OFFENDERS
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
SENTENCING
WOMEN
WOMEN'S USE OF VIOLENCE
AUSTRALIA
NEW SOUTH WALES
VICTORIA
Themes in judges' sentencing remarks for male and female domestic murderers Guy Hall, Marion Whittle and Courtney Field - Taylor & Francis, 2016 - Psychiatry, Psychology and Law .
Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 2016, 23(3): 395 - 412
"The aim of this study was to analyse judges' sentencing remarks in cases of domestic murder. In undertaking a qualitative analysis, the methodology of grounded theory was used, and the data emanating from the judges' sentencing remarks identified several major themes as discussed in this article. Broadly speaking, the data reflect that women are viewed more harshly than men and receive higher sentences. In addition, judges are distancing male offenders from their responsibility for their violent conduct, rendering them potential candidates for more lenient treatment in terms of sentence. The analysis also reveals that judges frequently rely on stereotypes and traditional notions of marriage, family and femininity in determining an offender's sentence. These assumptions are embedded in the different set of descriptors used by judges to describe male and female offenders." (Authors' abstract). Sentencing remarks for domestic murder cases between 2002 and 2010 from Victoria and New South Wales in Australia were chosen for the analysis. Record #5576
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
HOMICIDE
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE
JUSTICE
MEN
OFFENDERS
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
SENTENCING
WOMEN
WOMEN'S USE OF VIOLENCE
AUSTRALIA
NEW SOUTH WALES
VICTORIA