Crushing Equality: Gender Equal Sentencing in America

Abstract

A. BENEFITS OF CURRENT SENTENCING LAWS ............................................. 203 1. D eterrence ............................................................................................. 203 2. Uniform Punishment System .................................................................. 205 3. Economic Efficiency ............................................................................... 205 B. CRITIcIsMS OF CURRENT SENTENCING LAWS .......................................... 206 1. Deterrence May Not Be Achieved ............................................................ 207 a. The Proportionality Problem ..................................................................... 207 b. The Nullification Problem ......................................................................... 209 c. Lingering Discretion Hinders Deterrence ................................................. 209 2. A Uniform Punishment System Has Not Yet Been Achieved ..................... 210 a. Vague Definitions Continue to Generate Discrepancies ........................... 210 b. Adverse Effect on African-American Women ............................................ 214 c. Adverse Effect on Women in General ........................................................ 218 3. Costs May Be Too High ......................................................................... 221 a. Societal Costs .............................................................................................. 221 b. Econom ic costs ........................................................................................... 222