NCJ Number
76985
Date Published
1981
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study illustrates the deferential treatment of Native Americans reflected in the decision to release on parole in an upper plains State.
Abstract
The sample consisted of 137 offenders convicted of property crimes and admitted to the State prison system during 1970. A total of 54 of the offenders (39 percent) were Native Americans. Two dependent variables were employed: proportion of sentence served and length of sentence imposed. Data were gathered in 1976, thereby allowing sufficient time for offenders to have received full parole consideration or to have been released due to sentence expiration. The findings showed that Indian offenders served on the average 84 percent of their sentence while non-Indian offenders served 64 percent. However, sentences imposed on Indian defendants were significantly shorter then those received by non-Indians. This finding could be explained by theorizing that the parole board serves as the equalizer for sentencing disparity. However, it can be argued that Indians who received a short term of incarceration were being treated more harshly than those who obtained a nonincarcerative penalty for a similar offense. Thus, further analysis of the type of sentences imposed should be conducted. Discussion of prior studies, statistical data, a diagram, notes, and about 20 references are included.