| This study extends prior research into inequalities in judicial sentencing in four respects. First, it inquires the association between non-legal characteristics of defendants and sentencing types (detention, community or learning sentence, fine), rather than sentence severity. Second, it inquires the process of judicial decision-making, rather than its outcomes. Third, it inquires the importance of interactions between judges and defendants for decision-making, rather than judges? considerations only. Fourth, theoretical progress is made by interpreting findings in terms of institutionalized decision-making, especially by focussing on the neglected generating of institutions within organizations, rather than on the reproduction of institutions from the environment. |
