NCJ Number
65886
Date Published
1976
Length
99 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY ASSESSES THE SCOPE AND INTENSITY OF URBAN INDIAN CONFRONTATIONS WITH THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, DOCUMENTS ANTI-INDIAN PREJUDICE IN THE SYSTEM, AND TESTS A MODEL OF THE ANTECEDENTS OF URBAN INDIAN CRIME.
Abstract
THE LITERATURE REVIEW SUMMARIES TWO RELEVANT BODIES OF RESEARCH: (1) MAJOR FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH URBAN MIGRATION, INCLUDING A DISCUSSION OF RESERVATION LIFE AND INCENTIVES FOR MIGRATION; AND (2) NATIVE AMERICAN ADJUSTMENT TO URBAN LIVING, INCLUDING SUCH FACTORS AS RESIDENTIAL CONCENTRATION, THE EFFECTS ON FAMILY LIFE, AND URBAN INDIAN ORGANIZATIONS. DATA FOR THIS STUDY WERE OBTAINED FROM QUESTIONNARIES ADMINISTERED TO 122 INDIANS AND A COMPARISON SAMPLE OF 303 WHITE ADULTS IN SEATTLE, WASH. A SECOND OF DATA WAS THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHOSE COMPUTER RECORD OF ALL ARRESTS, CONVICTIONS, AND SENTENCINGS WAS OBTAINED FOR 1971. ANALYSIS OF COMPARATIVE FIGURES ON INDIAN AND WHITE PERCEPTION OF ANTI-INDIAN DISCRIMINATION IN THE JUDICIAL AND LEGAL INSTITUTIONS SHOWED THAT ALMOST THREE TIMES AS MANY INDIANS FELT THAT POLICE WERE UNNECESSARILY BRUTUAL IN THEIR DEALINGS WITH INDIANS. SIMILAR DISPARITIES BETWEEN INDIAN AND WHITE PERCEPTIONS WERE FOUND WITH RESPECT TO USE OF DEROGATORY LANGUAGE, USE OF EXCESSIVE FORCE, AND ATTITUDES OF FAIRNESS BY THE POLICE. ANALYSIS OF POLICE DEPARTMENT RECORDS REVEALED THAT 32,000 ARRESTS WERE MADE DURING THE YEAR, OF WHICH MORE THAN 3,800 INVOLVED INDIANS. THE INDIAN ARREST RATE IS 10 TIMES HIGHER THAN THE WHITE ARREST RATE AND OVER TWICE THAT OF BLACKS, NO INDIAN WAS RELEASED BY THE COURT IN THE YEAR STUDIED, AND 26 PERCENT OF ALL DEFENDANTS SENTENCED TO SERVE TIME WERE INDIANS, ALTHOUGH THEY REPRESENTED ONLY 12 PERCENT OF THE ARRESTS. NO INDIAN WAS GIVEN PROBATION OR WARNINGS, OR WAS COMMITTED TO A STATE HOSPITAL. MULTIPLE REGRESSION ANALYSIS WAS USED TO TEST THE MODEL WITH A DEPENDENT VARIABLE OF SELF-REPORTED ARREST. MOST OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL INDICATORS HAD LITTLE IMPACT, CONTRASTING WITH PREVIOUS STUDIES' FINDINGS. THUS, URBAN INDIAN CRIME DOES NOT APPEAR TO STEM PRIMARILY FROM THE INDIANS' SOCIAL CLASS OR CULTURAL DISTINCTIVENESS, BUT RATHER FROM SUBJECTION TO PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. APPENDIXES CONTAIN A LISTING OF SCALES AND NOTES. TABLES AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (MRK)