Split Sentencing and the “Youth Discount” in Florida Criminal Courts

Prior research on the criminal court punishment of transferred youth relative to adult defendants has produced mixed findings; however, these disparities have not been examined in the context of intermediate and alternative sanctions. In Florida, judges have the discretion to assign a split sentence...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Crime and delinquency 2024-03, Vol.70 (3), p.1060-1086
Main Author: Lehmann, Peter S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adults
Courts
Criminal sentences
Defendants
Felony
Imprisonment
Judges & magistrates
Minors
Punishment
Sanctions
Youth
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Summary:Prior research on the criminal court punishment of transferred youth relative to adult defendants has produced mixed findings; however, these disparities have not been examined in the context of intermediate and alternative sanctions. In Florida, judges have the discretion to assign a split sentence, which involves a mitigated term of imprisonment followed by a sentence to community supervision. Using data on felony cases sentenced under Florida’s Criminal Punishment Code (N = 704,977), these results provide evidence of a “youth discount,” with juveniles more likely than adults to receive split sentences. However, this pattern is observed regardless of whether a prison sentence is recommended by the guidelines, that is, even among cases in which a split sentence represents an upward departure.
ISSN:0011-1287
1552-387X
DOI:10.1177/00111287221141967