NCJ Number
107208
Journal
Social Science Volume: 71 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1986) Pages: 58-64
Date Published
1986
Length
7 pages
Annotation
The criminal justice system may actually be fairer to blacks in the South and in some border States than it is elsewhere, as indicated by data on imprisonment.
Abstract
Study data came from the Federal reports, 'Prisoners in State and Federal Institutions,' which have included statistics on the race of prisoners since 1978 and from North Carolina data between 1970 and 1980. Throughout the United States, blacks were found to be much more likely to be put in prison than whites. A portion of the higher imprisonment rates results from blacks being arrested more often, but some cannot be explained this way. In addition, the level of disproportion varies from State to State. Statistics show that black imprisonment may be more proportionate to black arrests in Southern States with large populations than in Northern States where fewer blacks live, perhaps contradicting theories that Southern States are hotbeds of racism. Data tables (Author abstract modified)