NCJ Number
38843
Journal
NOTRE DAME LAWYER Volume: 52 Issue: 1 Dated: (OCTOBER 1976) Pages: 87-94
Date Published
1976
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE POINTS OUT SOME OF THE PITFALLS TO WATCH FOR IN ANALYZING STATISTICS ABOUT RACIAL DISPARITIES BY THE JUDICIARY THAT MIGHT LEAD ONE TO CONCLUDE THERE ARE NO IMPORTANT RACIAL DISTINCTIONS WHEN THERE REALLY ARE.
Abstract
A RELATED SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH MAY LEAD ONE TO CONCLUDE THERE ARE IMPORTANT RACIAL DIFFERENCES WHEN IN REALITY THE DIFFERENCES ARE READILY ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONRACIAL FACTORS ARE ALSO CONSIDERED. OUTLINED ARE CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING HOW THE DATA BREAKS DOWN WITH RESPECT TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF JUDGES, VICTIMS, SENTENCING DECISIONS, DEFENDANTS, AND DECISION MAKERS AND CONSTRAINTS RELATED TO PLACE, TIME, THE STAGE OF THE JUDICIAL PROCESS, AND THE STATISTICAL SEMANTICS OF THE ANALYST. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)