Sentences and Prosecutors' Demands for Aggravated Drunk Driving in Finland

Sentences and prosecutors’ demands for aggravated drunk driving are
categorised into three classes: The sentence is more lenient than, is com-
patible with, or is harsher than the prosecutor’s demand. The probability of
a sentence falling into one of the three ordered categories is explained by a
cumulative logit model. The following circumstances affect the probability
of a more lenient or harsher sentence, in decreasing order of importance:
driving a truck, facing at least four counts, having a legal assistant, and
being present in the trial. The hypothesis that factors known by the
prosecutor, at the time of writing the demand, should not systematically
affect sentences is refuted. The judges assess circumstances differently
than the prosecutors. The prosecutors’ role is nevertheless prominent in
the sense that the sentences follow, to a great extent, their demands.
Notable gender effects of the actors in the courtroom are found.