Woman To Do 18 Months for DUI Death

To the rapidly expanding file marked "Female Sentencing Discount," add this case (Honolulu Advertiser, 2/18/09).

Sarah Whitford drank enough alcohol to give herself a blood-alcohol level three times the legal limit.  Then she got in her car, drove between 56 and 77 mph in a 25 mph zone, and plowed into Vailaile Fuaiva, Jr. killing him.  Fuaiva was a decorated veteran of the Viet Nam war and a pastor in the Haleiwa Evangelical Mission.  He leaves behind him a widow and four children.

Whitford's punishment?  Eighteen months in prison, five years probation and restitution of a little under $8,000.

At least two studies show that women receive substantially more lenient sentences than do men when all relevent factors are equal.  One of those studies concludes that gender is the single greatest factor in sentencing disparities, exceeding even race.

Thanks to "Mr. M" for the heads-up.

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