Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System: A Summary
- 1 January 1985
- journal article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Crime & Delinquency
- Vol. 31 (1) , 15-34
- https://doi.org/10.1177/0011128785031001002
Abstract
This article summarizes a comprehensive examination of racial discrimination in the criminal justice systems of California, Michigan, and Texas. In each of those states, judges typically imposed heavier sentences on Hispanics and blacks than on whites convicted of comparable felonies and who had similar criminal records. Not only did these minorities receive harsher minimum sentences but they also served more time. It is chiefly at the sentencing stage where differential treatment is most pronounced. I discuss what could account for differences in sentencing, and suggest areas for future policy and research attention.Keywords
This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:
- On the Racial Disproportionality of United States' Prison PopulationsThe Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology (1973-), 1982