MCJA 2007 Student Paper Award Whiner: ENEMIES AT THE GATE: TOWARD A THEORY OF COURT-LEVEL RACIAL THREAT.

This research proposes a theoretical model of judicial decision- making that Integrates Individual-level focal concerns perspective with the contextual influences of racial threat. Relying upon a large sample of felony court data, the study examines the interaction between court context, Individual offense/offender characteristics and corresponding sentencing outcomes. Findings suggest that courts processing a high volume of threatening populations are more likely to sentence defendants to prison and Impose sentences of greater length than courts that process a relatively low volume of threatening populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]