MARGINAL LABOR AND COUNTY LEVEL PUNISHMENT PATTERNS IN FLORIDA DURING THE 1980'S (FROM ACADEMICALLY SPEAKING: CRIMINAL JUSTICE RELATED RESEARCH BY FLORIDA'S DOCTORAL CANDIDATES, 1992, P 43-53, 1993, DIANE L ZAHM AND BARBARA FRENCH, EDS., - SEE NCJ-146927)

• NCJ Number: 146932
• Author(s): M A Delone
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 11 pages
• Sale Source: Florida Department of Law Enforcement; National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The relationship between local punishment rates and labor markets during a time of increasing incarceration and changing economic climate was explored using data from 67 Florida counties in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, and 1987.

Abstract

The study went beyond previous research on the relationship between labor surplus and punishment by including two measures of marginal labor (unemployment and subemployment) and two additional measures of punishment (prison and probation). Results revealed that increased unemployment rates were associated with increased prison commitment rates for the full 6-year period. Thus, results upheld the basic Rusche and Kirchheimer thesis that unemployment affects punishment, independent of the effects of crime. Findings also revealed that subemployment as measured here had no effect on prison commitment rates. However, the percentage of young, black males did directly influence the rate of prison commitments. In addition, an increase in crime rates and drug arrest rates both led to higher rates of probation. Findings suggested the need to continue within-state research on the relationship between labor surplus and punishment and indicated that population patterns and legal requirements specific to individual States and counties are important elements to take into consideration in social control research. Tables, figure, notes, and 52 references