Sponsor
Portland State University. Department of Sociology
First Advisor
Melissa Thompson
Term of Graduation
Spring 2026
Date of Publication
6-25-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (M.S.) in Sociology
Department
Sociology
Language
English
Physical Description
1 online resource (iv, 66 pages)
Abstract
This study explores the relationship between race, gender identity, sexuality, and prison sentence length using data from the Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016. While state and federal guidelines are ostensibly in place to prevent disparate sentencing outcomes, research still finds disparities in prison sentence lengths across identities of defendants. Women generally receive more lenient sentences than men, and may be shown chivalry when processed through the criminal legal system. However, qualifications for chivalrous treatment have historically only been accessible to certain women (i.e. cisgender, heterosexual, white women). The social and institutional exclusion queer women and/or women of color experience may result in disproportionate contact with the criminal legal system, unique pathways to prison, and ultimately, longer prison sentences. My findings suggest that on average, queer women receive significantly longer prison sentences than cisgender and heterosexual women, and Black women receive significantly longer sentences than white women; however, being both Black and queer was not significantly associated with additional increases in prison sentence length. This thesis contributes to the fields of sociology and queer criminology from an intersectional lens and advocates for justice for marginalized women who have contact with the criminal legal system.
Rights
© 2026 Jae Collett
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/45058
Recommended Citation
Collett, Jae, "Intersectional Pathways to Prison and Sentence Disparities: Exploring the Role of Race, Gender Identity, and Sexuality in Women’s Sentencing Outcomes" (2026). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 7175.