Researchers built the first study of police sentencing.

Sentencing is the last filter — most cases never reach a judge at all.

Brock University’s Danielle McNabb and University of Guelph’s Kate Puddister published the analysis in Police Quarterly.

The researchers argue courts alone cannot close a gap created earlier in the process.

How each outlet framed it
Phys.org
identifies systemic gap: judges emphasize denunciation/deterrence (92% of cases) yet can't address structural drivers of police misconduct

Sources: Phys.org