EFFECTS OF SOCIAL CLASS ON THE HANDLING OF CASES BY THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR - HOLLAND

• NCJ Number: 43837
• Author(s): R W JONGMAN; G J A SMALE
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 14 pages
• Corporate Author: Universitetet I Oslo
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: Netherlands
• Note: THIS PAPER WAS ORIGINALLY PREPARED FOR AN ORAL DELIVERY AT THE MEETING OF CRIMINOLOGISTS IN ESSEX, ENGLAND, SEPTEMBER 1974

Annotation

STUDIES ON UNEQUAL TREATMENT OF YOUNGSTERS FROM DIFFERENT SOCIAL STRATA WERE CONDUCTED TO POINT OUT DISADVANTAGES OF PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION AS PRACTICED IN HOLLAND.

Abstract

FIVE STUDIES ON THE SUBJECT OF SELECTIVE PROSECUTION EMPLOYED DATA FROM THE DUTCH CENTRAL BUREAU OF STATISTICS, INCLUDING POLICE REPORTS, ON DUTCH MALES SUSPECTED OF SIMPLE LARCENY IN 1968. THE VARIOUS SAMPLES WERE CONTROLLED FOR SUCH FACTORS AS AGE, RECIDIVISM, SOCIAL CLASS (HIGH OR LOW), AND WHETHER THE CASE WAS PROSECUTED OR DROPPED. THE INDIVIDUAL STUDIES ANALYZED THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PROSECUTION PROBABILITY AND (1) AGE, RECIDIVISM, AND SOCIAL CLASS; (2) AGE ONLY; (3) SOCIAL CLASS ONLY; (4) AGE AND SOCIAL CLASS; AND (5) SOCIAL CLASS AND AMOUNT OF MONEY STOLEN. ALL FINDINGS SUGGEST A STRONG RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL CLASS AND PROSECUTION PROBABILITY; JUVENILES FROM THE LOWER STRATA APPEARED TO HAVE LESS OPPORTUNITIES TO ESCAPE FROM CONVICTION THAN HAVE THEIR COUNTERPARTS FROM HIGHER STRATA. THE AUTHOR CALLS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH INTO CLASS-RELATED CHARACTERISTICS OF DECISION STRATEGY AMONG POLICE AND PROSECUTORS AND ADVOCATES GREATER CONTROL OVER DISCRETIONARY PRACTICES. SUPPORTING STATISTICS ARE PRESENTED IN TABULAR FORM.