Zitieren

Figure 1

Example of a Three-Level Model for Federal Sentencing.
Example of a Three-Level Model for Federal Sentencing.

Null Model for Upward Departures with Districts Nested in Circuits.

Fixed EffectsbS.E.
Intercept-3.934.087

p < .001

Random Effectss2S.E.ρ
Level-13.29
Level-2.250.042

p < .001

6.94%
Level-3.060.1621.67%
-2LL=4324243
n=623,947

Full Multilevel Model of Upward Departures.

VariableFixed EffectRandom Effect
bS.E.Odds Ratios2S.E.
Intercept-5.021.152-----

p < .001

.064.051
Legal Factors
Final Offense Level-.072.004931

p < .001

.001

p < .001

.000
Criminal History.057.0131 059

p < .001

009

p < .001

.002
Number of Counts (log).315.0181.370

p < .001

.009

p < .01

.003
General Offense Type------
Drugs (reference)
Violent1.576.1164.838

p < .001

Firearms.694.0942.001

p < .001

Immigration.199.1061.221
Property.532.0961.702

p < .001

Other.503.1161.653

p < .001

Acc. of Responsibility-.728.070.483

p < .001

.045

p < .05

.018
Extralegal Factors
Female-.559.047572

p < .001

.018.014
Minority.045.0441.046.035

p < .001

.010
U.S. Citizen.509.0661.664

p < .001

148

p < .001

.031
Age Over 50.311.0311.364

p < .001

.010.006
Case-Processing
In Custody1.403.0554.066

p < .001

055

p < .001

.016
Trial-.100.084.905.063

p < .05

.027
Random intercept.064.051
ρ1.9%
-2LL = 4149605 n = 567,294

Null Model for Upward Departures for Districts Nested in Years.

Fixed EffectsbS.E.
Intercept-3.937.057

p < .001

Random Effectss2S.E.ρ
Level-13.29
Level-2.282.046

p < .001

7.69%
Level-3.093.0102.54%
-2LL=4328082
n=623,947

Descriptive Statistics.

VariableMean (%)
Dependent Variable
Upward Departure(2.0%)
Predictor Variables
Legal
Final Offense Level18.72
Criminal History2.48
Number of Counts1.42
General Offense Type
Drugs(33.0%)
Violent(5.9%)
Firearms(10.6%)
Immigration(29.9%)
Property(16.5%)
Other(14.0%)
Acceptance of Responsibility(94.8%)
Extralegal
Female(12.8%)
Minority(73.5%)
U.S. Citizen(58.7%)
Age Over 50(12.5%)
Case-Processing
In Custody(75.3%)
Trial(3.5%)

Null Model for Upward Departures Nested in Districts.

Fixed EffectsbS.E.
Intercept-3.921.058

p < .001

Random Effectss2S.E.ρ
Level-13.29---
Level-2.301.047

p < .001

8.38%
-2LL=4324129
n=623,947

Coding Scheme of Variables.

VariableCoding SchemeDescription
Dependent Variable
Upward Departure1 = yesDefendant received an upward departure
Predictor Variables
Legal
Final Offense LevelScaleGuidelines scale rating offense severity from 1-43
Criminal HistoryOrdinalGuidelines ranking of criminal history from I-VI
Number of CountsLog (scale)Natural log of the number of counts of conviction
General Offense TypeFive dummy variablesFive dummy indicators with the reference category of drug offenses
Acceptance of Responsibility1 = yesDummy indicator for having received a reduction in offense levels for accepting responsibility
Extralegal
Male1 = maleDummy indicator for gender
Minority1 = minorityDummy indicator for black, Hispanic, or other together coded as 1, with the reference category white
U.S. Citizen1 = citizenDummy indicator for a U.S. citizen
Age Over 501 = yesDummy indicator for age 50 and above
Case-Processing
In Custody1 = yesDummy indicator for being in custody at time of sentencing
Trial1 = yesDummy indicator for going to trial (versus a plea)
Level-2Nominal94 districts

Specific Reasons Given by Judges for Upward Departures

RankReasonPercentage of Cases
1Criminal history issues60.0%
2Nature and circumstances of the offense and history and character of the defendant53.5%
3Reflect the seriousness of the offense, promote respect for the law, and provide just punishment49.9%
4Deterrence42.6%
5Protect the public from further crimes of the defendant40.9%
6Rehabilitation9.3%
7Avoid unwarranted disparities8.0%
8Dismissed and acquitted conduct8.4%
9General adequacy issue5.5%
10General guideline issue4.4%
eISSN:
2049-4092
Sprache:
Englisch
Zeitrahmen der Veröffentlichung:
2 Hefte pro Jahr
Fachgebiete der Zeitschrift:
Rechtswissenschaften, Öffentliches Recht, andere, Rechtsgeschichte, Rechtsphilosophie, Rechtssoziologie, Int. Recht, Auslands-, Völkerrecht, Rechtsvergleichung