NCJ Number
119294
Journal
Journal of Quantitative Criminology Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1989) Pages: 57-82
Date Published
1989
Length
26 pages
Annotation
The principle observed here in the making of bail decisions is that stratification resources operate to the greater advantage of whites than blacks.
Abstract
The operation of this principle is established through the estimation of covariance structure models of pretrial release decisions affecting 5660 defendants in 10 Federal courts. Education and income are treated in this study as observed components of a composite construct, stratification resources, which works to the greater advantage of whites. Prior record is also found to operate to the greater advantage of whites. Two further variables, dangerousness and community ties, increase bail severity among blacks and whites. Race-specific findings may explain why although this and earlier studies find negligible main effects of race on criminal justice outcomes, black Americans nonetheless perceive more criminal injustice than do whites. The finding that the statutory severity of the offense and dangerousness work to the relative disadvantage of white defendants challenges conflict and labeling theory's one-dimensional characterization of black defendant disadvantage. 1 figure, 7 tables, 56 references. (Author abstract modified)