Truth in Data: Finding Historical Evidence for a Racially Disadvantaged Criminal Justice System

• In Event: Posters II

Abstract

Several explanations have been proposed to explain racial disparities within the criminal justice system. Theories have included biased policing, a byproduct of economic and education gaps, an unfair drug war, or simply a historically racially disadvantaged criminal justice system. This historical analysis examines the characteristics of persons arrested in a large southern city over a 50-year period. More specifically, data analyzed consisted of more than 5,000 biannual arrests that took place from 1950 to 1990. In order to complete the analysis, these data were transcribed from the original hand-written records and placed into SPSS. Although specific details about each arrest were recorded, analyses were primarily directed toward more general categories of variables, including officer information, cause for arrest, geographic location, age, sex, and race.

Author

• William Hale, Louisiana State University Shreveport