Race/Ethnicity Disparity in Misdemeanor Marijuana Arrests in New York City

• NCJ Number: 218082
• Journal: Criminology & Public Policy Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2007 Pages: 131-164
• Author(s): Andrew Golub; Bruce D. Johnson; Eloise Dunlap
• Date Published: February 2007
• Length: 34 pages
• Grant Number(s): 1R01 DA/CA13690-05
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Development and Research Institute, Inc. (NDRI)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the growth in marijuana misdemeanor arrests in New York City from 1980 to 2003 and its differential impact on African-Americans and Hispanics.

Abstract

The growth in smoking marijuana in public view (MPV) arrest activity in New York City (NYC) was found to have had a substantial and disproportionate impact on young African-American men and Hispanic men. In addition, members of these minority groups, on average, have been receiving harsher treatment within the criminal justice system. African-American and Hispanic MPV arrestees have been more likely than their White counterparts to be detained, convicted, and sentenced to additional time in jail. Recommendation are presented suggesting it is time to reassess whether the New York City Police Department’s goal of keeping marijuana smoking out of public locations can be met through a less punitive approach. By the year 2000, the number of marijuana arrests in NYC rivaled the number of controlled substance arrests. MPV had become the most common misdemeanor, accounting for 15 percent of all adult arrests. Figure, tables, and references