DISPARITIES IN CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

• NCJ Number: 17048
• Author(s): S S NAGEL
• Date Published: 1965
• Length: 49 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT THE AMERICAN SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING, AUGUST 1965

Annotation

NATIONWIDE ANALYSIS OF THE DEGREE TO WHICH DISPARITIES INVOLVING DIFFERENT TYPES OF GROUPS ARE PRESENT AT VARIOUS STAGES OF BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS.

Abstract

THE RAW DATA FOR THE STATE CASES WAS OBTAINED BY THE AMERICAN BAR FOUNDATION FROM A STUDY OF TRIAL COURT DOCKETS FOR THE YEAR 1962 IN A SAMPLE OF 194 COUNTIES IN ALL 50 STATES. THE RAW DATA FOR THE FEDERAL CASES WAS TAKEN FROM THE 36,265 FEDERAL CRIMINAL CASES DECIDED IN 1963. THE PRESENT STUDY USES ONLY THE ASSAULT AND INTERSTATE LARCENY CASES, AND EXCLUDES CASES FROM THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND AMERICAN TERRITORIES. THIS PAPER BRIEFLY DEFINES EACH STAGE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURES, HOW INFORMATION ON EACH STAGE IS RECORDED, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE STAGES TO THE OVERALL PROCESS. THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE CASES ON THE PROCEDURAL VARIABLES IS ALSO INDICATED. BOTH DISPARITIES RELATING TO THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DEFENDANTS AND THE COURTS ARE CONSIDERED. VARIABLES DISCUSSED INCLUDE ECONOMIC CLASS, SEX, RACE, AGE, EDUCATION, URBANISM, REGION, AND LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT. EIGHT TABLES OF DATA ARE INCLUDED WHICH SUMMARIZE THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY.