Jane is a mother of two. She was charged with second-degree murder for killing her husband in a fit of rage. According to state sentencing guidelines, Jane should have been sentenced to twelve to twenty years in prison. The judge instead sentenced Jane to ten years in prison since she had no prior criminal record and had two young children to raise. In this scenario, which of the following factors most likely influenced the judge's decision?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The chivalry effect suggests that women are often treated more leniently in the criminal justice system, especially when they have traditional roles such as being a mother. The judge's decision to sentence Jane to a lesser term than the guidelines suggest, due to her role as a mother and lack of prior criminal record, aligns with this concept.

Jane Is a Mother of Two