The impact of race on criminal justice ideology

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Abstract
The existing literature contains conflicting theoretical positions and empirical evidence on whether race shapes perceptions of the criminal justice system. On the basis of a stratified community sample, the current study assessed these competing views. The data revealed that race was related significantly to criminal justice ideology; African-Americans were found to be more liberal and less conservative than whites. Racial differences persisted, moreover, when controls were introduced for general political ideology, crime experiences, contact with the criminal justice system, and neighborhood conditions.