NCJ Number
98611
Journal
Justice Quarterly Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1985) Pages: 197-212
Date Published
1985
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This 1981-82 study examined whether Arab offenders in Israel received fewer probation recommendations in presentence reports and fewer probation grants than did Israeli offenders.
Abstract
The research examined both sentencing recommendations and dispositions for 208 young adult offenders for whom presentence reports were prepared in 1976-78 by the Northern District Office of the Adult Probation Service in Haifa, Israel. The district included approximately one-third of Israel's population. The all-male sample was nearly evenly population. The all-male sample was nearly evenly divided between Arabs and Jews. Sociodemographic information on the offenders was obtained from the presentence reports, and data on offenses and sanctions were collected from the police reports in the probation files. The major independent variable was ethnicity (Jewish and Arab). The dependent variables were the presentence recommendation and the disposition. The major intervening variable was the severity of the offender's legal situation. Prior record and current offense were measured separately and then combined to create an index of legal severity. The findings indicate that Arabs were less likely to be recommended for probation, less likely to be granted probation, and more likely to be sent to prison when not granted probation. The Arab probation officers' more conservative recommendations may reflect their identification with the Arab community at the expense of traditional casework values. Tabular data and 36 references are provided.