Racial/Ethnic Discrimination and Prosecution

Wu, Jawjeong

doi:10.1177/0093854815628026

Cited by 68 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 71 publications

(174 reference statements)

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“…31 A 2016 meta-analysis assessed empirical findings from 26 studies involving a total of 86,877 criminal cases. 32 Minority offenders were 9% more likely to be charged or fully prosecuted than white offenders. 33 To the contrary, a few studies have found null results or even a racial disparity in favor of minorities.…”

Section: A Effects Of Racementioning

confidence: 97%

Race and Class: A Randomized Experiment with Prosecutors

Robertson¹,

Baughman²,

Wright³

2019

J Empirical Legal Studies

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Disparities in criminal justice outcomes are well known, and prior observational research has shown correlations between the race of defendants and prosecutors' decisions about how to charge and resolve cases. Yet causation is questionable: other factors, including unobserved variation in case facts, may account for some of the disparity. Disparities may also be driven by socioeconomic class differences, which are highly correlated with race. This article presents the first blinded, randomized controlled experiment that tests for race and class effects in prosecutors' charging decisions. Case vignettes are manipulated between subjects in five conditions to test effcts of defendants' race and class status. In the control condition, race and class are omitted, which allows baseline measures for bias and pilot testing of a blinding reform. Primary outcome variables included whether the prosecutor charged a felony, whether the prosecutor would pursue a fine or imprisonment, and the amounts thereof. With 467 actual prosecutors participating nationwide, we found that race and class did not have detectable prejudicial effects on prosecutorial decisions. This finding, contrary to the majority of observational studies, suggests that other causes drive known disparities in criminal justice outcomes.

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Section: A Effects Of Racementioning

confidence: 97%

Race and Class: A Randomized Experiment with Prosecutors

Robertson¹,

Baughman²,

Wright³

2019

J Empirical Legal Studies

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“…For example, studies have indicated that young African American boys are viewed by others as older and less innocent compared to non-Hispanic white peers of the same age [40]. Findings such as these indicate how bias and racism can be implicated in police arrest decisions, prosecutorial charges, and judicial sentencing [40][41][42]. These systemic injustices and hostilities toward minority youth may instigate behaviors which commonly lead to labels of ODD and CD, perpetuating a cycle of structural racism: If minority youth perceive others viewing them as older, more dangerous, more aggressive, and less innocent than they really are, they may respond with aggressive and defiant behaviors based on these perceptions [40].…”

Section: Systemic Biases and Structural Racismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unconscious Bias and the Diagnosis of Disruptive Behavior Disorders and ADHD in African American and Hispanic Youth

et al. 2019

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“…Whites have reported more positive perceptions of their personal treatment by legal authorities than Latino and Black youth (Buckler, Wilson, Hartley, & Davila, 2011; Gau & Brunson, 2010; Tartar et al, 2012). These perceptions are likely due to real disparities in treatment and outcomes among minority groups in the justice system, with research indicating that minority offenders are more likely to be arrested, face greater odds of being charged and prosecuted, and are sentenced more harshly than their white counterparts (Bonnie, Johnson, Chemers, & Schuck, 2013; Gau & Brunson, 2010; Lytle, 2014; Mitchell, 2005; Wu, 2016). Although prior experience with the justice system has been less well studied, there is some evidence that individuals with more convictions perceive personal contacts as less just (Otto & Dalbert, 2005).…”

Section: Implications For Procedural Justicementioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of waiver to adult court on youths’ perceptions of procedural justice.

Kaasa¹,

Tatar²,

Dezember³

et al. 2018

Psychology, Public Policy, and Law

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The current study examined perceptions of fair treatment in a past court experience among a sample of incarcerated youth (n = 364). Perceptions were compared for youth whose cases were processed through the juvenile (n = 261) versus adult court (n = 103) systems. In general, youth who were adjudicated in adult court felt more justly treated by legal authorities than youth adjudicated in juvenile court. Specifically, youth in adult court rated judges as only marginally more just than youth in juvenile court, but rated their defense attorney’s treatment as significantly more just. Youth rated the prosecutor’s treatment as relatively unjust regardless of where their case was handled. Differences in perceptions of procedural justice were also observed based on prior arrest history and race, with minority youth and repeat offenders perceiving the process to be less procedurally just. Our findings should not be used as support for the increased transfer of youth into adult court, as other studies have demonstrated these youth tend to have worse outcomes. However, our findings do suggest that improvements should be made to increase elements of procedural justice in juvenile court settings.

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Racial/Ethnic Discrimination and Prosecution

Cited by 68 publications

References 71 publications

Race and Class: A Randomized Experiment with Prosecutors

Race and Class: A Randomized Experiment with Prosecutors

Unconscious Bias and the Diagnosis of Disruptive Behavior Disorders and ADHD in African American and Hispanic Youth

The impact of waiver to adult court on youths’ perceptions of procedural justice.

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