NCJ Number
132575
Date Published
1991
Length
126 pages
Annotation
Information from offenders arrested for misdemeanor offenses in New York State in 1985 and 1986 was used to determine whether racial disparities in incarcerative sentences were associated with particular crimes, criminal histories, jurisdictions, and post-arrest processing decisions.
Abstract
The analysis used statistical models to control for differences in the type and seriousness of charges at arrest, the extent of prior criminal records, and the county of jurisdiction. Results showed widespread racial disparities in case processing and identified the counties, arrest charges, criminal records, and processing decisions for which disparities were most likely to occur. The largest disparities involved fines and jail sentences for persons with prior arrest records. The tendency to fine whites, but to incarcerate minorities, suggests the need for alternatives to incarceration or new ways to fine low-income defendants; the day-fine system represents a particularly promising approach to reducing sentencing disparities. Results also indicated the need to measure disparities systematically over time. Footnotes, tables, and appended additional results