Unequal Jury Representation and Its Consequences

Shamena Anwar (), Patrick Bayer () and Randi Hjalmarsson
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Shamena Anwar: RAND Corporation
Patrick Bayer: Duke University

No 801, Working Papers in Economics from University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics

Abstract: We analyze the extent and consequences of unequal representation on juries in Harris County, Texas. We first document that residents from predominantly white and high-income neighborhoods are substantially over-represented on juries. Using quasi-random variation in those called for jury duty each day, we next establish that Black defendants are more likely to be convicted and receive longer sentences from juries with more residents from these over-represented neighborhoods. We estimate that equal representation would reduce Black defendants’ median sentence length by 50 percent and the probability of receiving a life sentence by 67 percent. Straightforward remedies could mitigate this severe bias.

Keywords: jury; crime; sentences; representation; inequality; race (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J15 K40 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 36 pages
Date: 2021-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-law and nep-ure
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https://gupea.ub.gu.se/handle/2077/68037 Full text (text/html)

Related works:
Journal Article: Unequal Jury Representation and Its Consequences (2022)
Working Paper: Unequal Jury Representation and Its Consequences (2021)
Working Paper: Unequal Jury Representation and Its Consequences (2021)
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