Gender Disparity: A view of Florida’s Correction System

Disparity in sentence length has long been a topic of discussion (Spohn, 2009).
Though most research is aimed at disparity due to race, few studies utilize sex as a focal
point (Crow & Kunselman, 2009; Embry & Lyons, 2012; Gavin, 2014; Hartley, Kwak,
Park & Min-Sik Lee, 2011; Hasset-Walker, Lateano, Di Benedetto, 2014; Messing, 2008;
Steffensmeier, Ulmer & Kramer, 1998). The focus of this study is to examine the effect
of sex on sentence length, controlling for characteristics derived from the evil woman
hypothesis, chivalry hypothesis, and focal concerns theory, to discuss the potential
paternalism of the criminal justice system, which may cause potential sentence disparities
(Daly, 1989; Nagel & Hagen, 1983; Steffensmeir, Ulmer, & Kramer, 1998). The findings
indicate that women always receive a reduced sentence compared to male offenders,
regardless of the crime type of past criminal offenses. The statistically significant results
indicate that there is a need to review the criminal justice system and implement new
polices such as judicial review to help stymie the differing sentences given (Spohn, 2009). If not, offenders will continue to receive differing sentences, based solely on
extra-legal factors, such as the sex of the offender.