NCJ Number
145132
Journal
Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 44 Issue: 3 Dated: (1993) Pages: 43-59
Date Published
1993
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This is an investigation into the direct and indirect effects of race on decisionmaking in the justice system specifically, why blacks are overrepresented.
Abstract
Juveniles (60 percent black, 40 percent white) from eight communities in Georgia were tracked through four decision points: police apprehension, court intake, adjudication, and disposition. The sample size was 346 at the first point, decreasing at each subsequent point as subjects were released, dismissed, or acquitted. Results suggested that race did effect decisionmaking primarily indirectly, but regarding case disposition, directly. At the three earlier points, race showed indirect effects through the variables of severity of current offense and demeanor but not prior record. Race of the victim was found to have an indirect effect, but no significant effect was found through other victim characteristics, nor through characteristics of family, court process, and community. Although the blacks who passed through the system were disproportionately poor, the author concludes that socioeconomic factors have become more important than race. 5 tables, 7 figures, 10 endnotes, and 8 references