FACTORS AFFECTING POSTARREST DISPOSITIONS - A MODEL FOR ANALYSIS

• NCJ Number: 29288
• Journal: Social Problems Volume: 22 Issue: 3 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1975) Pages: 313-332
• Author(s): P J BURKE; A T TURK
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 20 pages
• Corporate Author: Soc for the Study of Social Problems
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

ILLUSTRATIVE APPLICATION OF GOODMAN'S LOG-LINEAR ANALYSIS TO THE COMPLEX ANALYTICAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY CRIMINOLOGISTS IN RESEARCH ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL DISADVANTAGE AND CRIMINALIZATION.

Abstract

SUBSTANTIVELY, THE ANALYSIS DEALS WITH THE QUESTION OF WHETHER AND TO WHAT EXTENT SUCH VARIABLES AS AN ARRESTED INDIVIDUAL'S AGE, RACE, OCCUPATIONAL STATUS, AND RECORD OF INCARCERATION INFLUENCE THE TYPE AND SEVERITY OF THE CASE DISPOSITION, AND, IF SUCH VARIABLES ARE FOUND TO HAVE EFFECTS, WHETHER THAT EFFECT IS DIRECT OR MEDIATED THROUGH EFFECTS OF THE NATURE OF THE OFFENSES CHARGED. THE RESULTS OF THE ANALYSIS SUGGEST THAT ASSERTIONS OF LEGAL SYSTEM BIAS AGAINST THE SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED REQUIRE BETTER EVIDENCE THAN HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN OFFERED IN THEIR SUPPORT. FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL DISADVANTAGE AND CRIMINALIZATION MUST RECOGNIZE THE COMPLEXITY OF THAT RELATIONSHIP NOT ONLY IN THEORY BUT EQUALLY IN THE DESIGN AND EXECUTION OF RESEARCH. LOG-LINEAR ANALYSIS OF MULTIDIMENSIONAL CONTINGENCY TABLES CAN BE USED TO SPECIFY THE DEGREE AND NATURE OF THAT COMPLEXITY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)