Citation

Gillespie LK, Loughran TA, Smith MD, Fogel SJ, Bjerregaard B. Homicide Stud. 2014; 18(2): 175-195.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1088767913485747

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Disparities in the administration of capital punishment are a prominent social and political issue. Recent studies indicate that victim characteristics of sex and race produce interactive effects on capital-sentencing outcomes. Extending this line of research, the current analysis explores the intersection of victim sex with victim conduct and victim-defendant relationship, utilizing a population of North Carolina capital cases spanning the years 1977 to 2009 (N = 1,285).

FINDINGS indicate that cases with a female victim who was not involved in illegal activity at the time of the murder and acquaintance female victim cases are most likely to result in a death recommendation. Potential reasons for these findings are discussed.

Language: en