Sentencing disparities reveal whether a society delivers equal justice.

Evidence

In addition, a comparison of the sentences meted out to members of various racial and economic groups provides one indication of the society’s commitment to equal justice. Charges of racial bias in sentencing and complaints about judges who are “soft on crime,” whether justified or not, show that cumulative policymaking can be highly controversial. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 2820

Categorization

• XREF: Links directly to the course’s foundational value of equality and debates over race in criminal sentencing.