Final answer:
Yes, the indeterminate sentencing model can result in judicial discrimination based on race or social class. Evidence suggests that judges' discretion in sentencing can be influenced by biases, leading to disparities in treatment of offenders based on racial and social factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Can the indeterminate sentencing model result in judicial discrimination based on the offender's race or social class? The answer is yes. Indeterminate sentencing, which allows for a range of potential years to be served rather than a fixed term, provides judges with a level of discretion that could be influenced by conscious or unconscious biases. There is evidence from various studies that show disparities in sentencing outcomes for individuals who are Black, male, less educated, and lower income. Furthermore, risk assessment instruments used in the sentencing process can have a disparate impact across racial groups, sometimes perpetuating existing disparities within the criminal justice system.
As incarceration decisions are influenced by such factors, the potential for discrimination arises. This indicates that elements of race and social class do play a role in the lengths and types of sentences given to offenders, revealing that judicial discretion under the indeterminate sentencing model can lead to unequal treatment within the justice system.