NCJ Number
187797
Date Published
2000
Length
30 pages
Annotation
This chapter explores the social construction of knowledge as it applies to the conceptualization and operationalization of race in criminal justice, using Latinos as a specific example of the problems associated with development of this knowledge.
Abstract
The social construction of knowledge applies to the perceptions of researchers as they conceptualize and operationalize key variables. The current state of race research is to emphasize African-Americans as a minority, while ignoring or misrepresenting other groups. This creates three problems for criminal justice research. First, numerous groups are neglected in the measurement of race. Second, if these groups are included, they are collapsed into the categories of "non-white" or "other." Third, when any race is included in the race variable, African-Americans or otherwise, the diversity within the group is not taken into account. If race research neglects other groups, public policy actions will be misguided and might fail. Further, if various races are assumed to be homogeneous and their diversity is not taken into account, the knowledge about the race-crime relationship will be incorrect, and public policy action becomes misguided. This chapter provides a justification for including all groups when studying race, as well as for the need to account for the diversity of all races. Using Latinos as an example, data and literature are used to show the importance of including Latinos in the race variable. This justification strategy should be used for the inclusion of all races and ethnicities. The need to include the Latino perspective in future contemporary criminal justice research is discussed. 77 references