Cassia Spohn
Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Arizona State University
Key Findings
- Use of drugs at the time of the crime is directly linked to longer sentences.
- Use of drugs at the time of the crime increases the possibility of pretrial detention, which is also linked to longer sentences.
- Effects of drug use on sentencing varied depending on the type of drug the offender used at the time of crime and the type of offense committed.
Description
In the article, “The Direct and Indirect Effects of Offender Drug Use on Federal Sentencing Outcomes,” Spohn and her co-authors examine the effects that drug use can have on sentencing for drug trafficking offenders since drug use is factored into decisions for bail and pretrial detention. The researchers use data from the U.S. District Courts (totaling 2,833) to determine how drug history, drug type, type of crime, and drug use at the time of the crime influence sentencing decisions. The results showed that there was a direct effect for offenders who used drugs at the time of the crime, which was longer sentences than for those that never used drugs. Offenders who used drugs at the time of the crime were more likely to be detained prior to trial, which was also tied to receiving longer sentences. Finally, the authors found that effects of drug use on sentencing varied depending on the type of drug the offender used at the time of crime and the type of offense committed.