UNR study: Nevada courts harsh on blacks

University researchers have found that blacks convicted of crimes in Nevada get more prison time than whites, and women receive lighter sentences than men.

A study released Tuesday by the Grant Sawyer Center for Justice Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno looked at 10,000 felony convictions in Nevada in 2007.

It found blacks received "significantly higher" sentences than white defendants in drug trafficking, drunken driving, grand larceny, burglary and conspiracy cases.

The study found that 18 percent of women convicted of a felony ended up in prison, compared with 37 percent of men.

Study chief Matthew Leone called the results preliminary. He said the data doesn't take into account the criminal history of the defendants.