NCJ Number
189153
Journal
Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2001 Pages: 123-141
Date Published
May 2001
Length
19 pages
Annotation
A random sample of 435 cases provided information for an analysis of interracial and interethnic victim-offender dyads on domestic assault case processing through the Sacramento County (CA) Criminal Court system during July 1995 through June 1996.
Abstract
The research grouped the cases into white persons assaulting white persons, Black persons assaulting Black persons, Hispanic persons assaulting white persons, Hispanic persons, assaulting Hispanic persons, Black persons assaulting white persons, and other. The analysis considered five outcome measures: (1) the decision to file charges, (2) the decision to file cases as felonies versus misdemeanors, (3) the decision to prosecute fully versus case dismissal, (4) whether a case was convicted on felony or misdemeanor charges, and (5) the length of sentence imposed. Results of logistic and regression analysis revealed no effect of interracial/ethnic dyads on any of these decision points. Extralegal variables such as defendant drug abuse at the time of the offense attained or approached significance in all the models, suggested that prosecutors regarded this as an important marker for violent recidivism. Victim characteristics such as violent behavior leading to an arrest had an important determination on whether a case would progress beyond the filing stage. Legal variables such as the seriousness of victim injury and the severity of the attack appeared to vary in their effect according to the decision under analysis. Evidence factors and indicators of prior record also seemed to vary in their effect depending on the outcome measure. The analysis concluded that the findings provided no support for the proposition that official decision makers regarded intraracial and intraethnic violence as less worthy of condemnation and punishment than interracial and interethnic violence. Tables, notes, appended methodological information, and 33 references (Author abstract modified)