SENTENCING DISPARITY FOR DRUG OFFENSES

What factors are associated with Metro State student's awareness of the relationship between sentencing disparity for drug offenses and race?

Chapter 5

Discussion and Implications

Introduction

This research study was done to gain an insight about the factors that are associated with Metro State student's awareness of the relationship between sentencing disparity for drug offenses and race. The purpose of the study was to address practices of sentencing disparity for drug offences based on race.

The sample size of the research was 70 students from three separate classes held at Metropolitan State University. The return rate of the surveys was 50, which is approximately 71% of the original sample size. The data for this research project was collected using a survey.

Discussion of the Study Findings

The study attempted to gain insight about the factors that are associated with Metro State student's awareness of the relationship between sentencing disparity for drug offenses and race. The survey which was used for this research project consists of five questions. Four of those questions asked respondent to provide demographic information including education major, gender, race, and marijuana legalization which were independent variables. The fifth question will utilize likert-type response while generally ask respondents to indicate the extent to which they are knowledgeable to the subject matter which is a dependant variable.

Four separate hypotheses were stated in the research, which included the following:

Hypothesis 1. Criminal Justice majors are more likely than law enforcement and others to be aware of racially based sentencing disparity for drug offenses.

In the results it showed that out of the 20 criminal justice, 70% were aware and 30% were not aware of racially based sentencing disparity for drug offenses. Moreover, out of 30 law enforcement and others 80% were aware and 20% were unaware of racially based sentencing disparity for drug offenses. Thus hypothesis 1 has been rejected.

Hypothesis 2. Respondents who agree with the legalization of marijuana are more likely to be aware of racially based sentencing disparity for drug offenses.

In the results it showed that out of the 32 who voted for marijuana to be legalized 78% were aware and 22% were unaware of the racially based sentencing disparity for drug offenses. Moreover, out of the 18 who voted for marijuana to not be legalized 72% were aware and 28% were unaware of the racially based sentencing disparity for drug offenses. Hence the data supports the hypothesis and the hypothesis ...