The Intersection of Victim Race and Gender

Abstract

Previous research on race and the death penalty has shown that victim race is a significant predictor of whether a jury imposes a death sentence. However, less attention has been given to the effects of victim gender and to the combined effects of victim race and gender. With a growing scholarly interest in intersectionality, it is crucial to consider the interaction effect of victim race and gender on death sentencing outcomes. Data from the Capital Jury Project were used to examine whether the intersection of victim race and gender is associated with an increased odds of defendants receiving a death sentence and whether a “White female victim effect” exists. This study instead reveals a significant “Black male victim” effect. Black male victim cases are the least likely to be perceived by jurors as involving brutality, heinousness, and victim suffering. Results indicate that a defendant’s odds of receiving a death sentence in a White female victim case is 3.8 times greater and 3.6 times greater in a White male victim case than in a Black male victim case. Victim race rather than victim gender appears to be the factor most strongly influencing jury decision making in capital cases.

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