Sexist Justice: moms do more time than dads

Hundreds of loving but forgetful parents have inadvertently killed their children by leaving them in the back of hot cars. The Associated Press analyzed more than 310 such incidents in the past 10 years and discovered a disturbing reality. In a story featured by Yahoo News, the Associated Press dedicated one paragraph to a fact that should be a story unto itself.

"Mothers are treated much more harshly than fathers. While mothers and fathers are charged and convicted at about the same rates, moms are 26 percent more likely to do time. And their median sentence is two years longer than the terms received by dads." [Associated Press (AP)]

Why are women, on average, given harsher sentences than men for the same crime? We'd like to know.