NCJ Number
127160
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 30 Issue: 4 Dated: (Autumn 1990) Pages: 483-492
Date Published
1990
Length
10 pages
Annotation
As debate on policies governing migration of peoples into and within the newly established European Community begin, the policy implications of research linking race with crime must be examined very carefully.
Abstract
The author utilizes a recent article by Marianne Junger to illustrate the flaws inherent in much of the research linking race and crime. These flaws include: (1) the validity of self-report disclosure with this population; (2) comparing the validity of self-reports against the criterion of police contacts or "arrest rates;" (3) drawing conclusions about "ethnic" differences in "validity" given the large differences in rates of police contacts between ethnic groups; (4) using the terms "race," "culture," and "ethnicity" interchangeably; (5) elevating "delinquent behavior" to a level comparable to "criminal involvement;" (6) validating and utilizing arrest data to measure crime or delinquency; (7) estimating the possibility of racial bias throughout the research; and (8) identifying any particular group as an ethnic minority. The author cautions against basing any social policies on research which is conceptually and methodologically weak. 11 notes and 33 references