AER: Insights · 2022 · Shamena Anwar、Patrick J. Bayer、Randi Hjalmarsson
中文摘要
我们分析了得克萨斯州哈里斯县陪审团代表性不平等的程度及其后果。我们首先记录到，来自以白人和高收入为主社区的居民在陪审团中的代表性显著过高。利用每日被传唤履行陪审义务人群的准随机变异，我们进一步发现，黑人被告在拥有更多来自这些代表性过高社区居民的陪审团审判中，更可能被定罪并受到更长的刑期。我们估计，平等代表性将使黑人被告刑期的中位数缩短50%，并使被判处无期徒刑的概率降低67%。直接的补救措施可以缓解这些法律上缺乏正当性的种族差异。(JEL J15, K41)
Abstract
We analyze the extent and consequences of unequal representation on juries in Harris County, Texas. We first document that residents from predominantly White and high-income neighborhoods are substantially overrepresented on juries. Using quasirandom variation in those called for jury duty each day, we next establish that Black defendants are more likely to be convicted and receive longer sentences from juries with more residents from these overrepresented neighborhoods. We estimate that equal representation would reduce Black defendants’ median sentence length by 50 percent and the probability of receiving a life sentence by 67 percent. Straightforward remedies could mitigate these legally unwarranted racial disparities. (JEL J15, K41)