McNair Scholar 2021 Aysia Dukes
Aysia L. Dukes is a senior at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, majoring in Sociology of Law, Criminology, and Deviance with a double minor in Family Social Science and Family Violence Prevention. Her research interests include the study of individuals impacted by mass incarceration in the United States.
My dream is to work with the rehabilitation of children involved in the juvenile legal system and turn them to a better path. I believe that intervention of children and youth before they get involved in the adult criminal legal system will eradicate the need for prisons.
Research project
Sentencing Disparities in Minnesota, 2001-2019
Abstract:
Discrimination regarding characteristics like race and gender are not uncommon in the United States. While there are legal protections in place making it more difficult for discriminatory practices to take place inside of a courtroom, it is virtually impossible to rid a human system completely of biases and disparity. One of the practices that has been enacted to reduce disparity is the creation of sentencing guidelines. Using data collected by the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission, this study attempts to determine the level of disparity that still exists in Minnesota regarding sentencing as well as find if the amount of disparity in the courtroom during sentencing has decreased over time. Results revealed that while legal factors explain much of the disparities between the Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and Asian to White comparison, there are still discrepancies in sentencing that remain unexplained. The analysis concluded that sentences for American Indian and Black Minnesotans are approximately one month longer than those of White Minnesotans when controlling for relevant variables and these results have remained relatively stable over time.
Faculty mentor
Dr. Christopher Uggen is a Regents Professor and a Martindale Chair at the University of Minnesota in the Departments of Sociology and Law. Dr. Uggen specializes in studies regarding criminology, felon disenfranchisement, and monetary sanctions. Dr. Uggen holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where he received his BA in Behavioral Science and Law/Criminal Justice as well as his MA in Sociology. Dr. Uggen has been published in many journals for his work in the field of Sociology. Dr. Uggen has received many recognitions for his work including being named a Fellow of the American Society of Criminology.
Hannah Schwendeman is a Sociology Ph. D. student at the University of Minnesota. She received her BA from the University of Washington with College Honors, majoring in Law, Societies, & Justice. Her research interests include the consequences of mass incarceration, punishment, and inequality.