NCJ Number
96743
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 31 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1985) Pages: 15-34
Date Published
1985
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This article discusses a study of racial discrimination in the criminal justice systems of California, Michigan, and Texas.
Abstract
Study data were taken from the 1980 California Offender-Based Transaction Statistics (OBTS), which is a computerized information system maintained by the California Bureau of Criminal Statistics; and the Rand Institute Survey (RIS), which consists of data obtained from a self-administered questionnaire completed by 1,380 male inmates in California, Michigan, and Texas. Analysis of the OBTS indicates that at the front end of case processing the system seems to treat white offenders more severely than minority offenders; at the back end, the reverse is true. Further, white suspects are somewhat more likely than minority suspects to be arrested on warrants and less likely to be released on charges. Once charged, offenders of all races have about the same chance of being convicted of a felony. Additionally, analysis of the RIS data suggests that prior criminal record is not significantly related to the length of court-imposed sentences; however, sentence length is significantly related to age and type of conviction. Although racial differences were found in the types of crimes committed, evidence indicates that in proportion to the kind and amount of crimes committed, minorities are not being overarrested. Finally, at a few points in the criminal justice system; however, this treatment does not seem to result from widespread or consistent racial discrimination in the system. Eight references, three tables, and one figure are included.