Sentencing Disparity: Aboriginal Canadians, Drunk Driving and Age*

摘要: Researchers have tried to explain the over-representation of Aboriginal peoples in custody by attributing this more punitive sentencing. A few investigators discovered harsher sanctions, some actually found shorter sentences that indicate paternalistic sentencing, but generally better research designs show little evidence bias once prior criminal history and offence severity are considered. In US, sentencing on racial has moved towards models incorporate age, gender race interactions use specific crimes con- textualize findings uncover discrimination not easily discerned univariate bivariate general offences. These shown an age advantage for older offenders conditioned type. This exploratory study used focal concerns theory test disparity hypotheses, examined further assess possible mediating influence race. The sample consisted 237 male drunk drivers sentenced Drive Under Influence (DUI) Alberta, Canada from 1989-1991. Controls included driving charges, collision indicators, standard demographic variables. Findings provided partial support related Age impacted drivers, favorably younger negatively DUI cases their forties.