The effects of race/ethnicity, age, and gender on disposition of misdemeanor arrests in New York City

• In Event: Misdemeanor Justice Project: A Mixed Methods Approach to Understanding Low Level Offenses in New York City

Abstract

The misdemeanor arrest rate grew substantially from 1980 to 2013, by about 191 percent. This increase was experienced primarily by young men of color. During this time period, the disposition of these misdemeanor cases also shifted significantly. The percent of misdemeanor cases resulting in a conviction dropped nearly 12% (from 57% to 45%), the percent that were dismissed increased (30% to 39%), and the percent where the district attorney declined to prosecute more than doubled (from 4% to 11%). Hence, convictions are going down and dismissals are increasing. It is unclear whether these changes were experienced uniformly across demographics groups or whether certain groups experienced more dismissals. This paper will examine whether disposition outcomes vary by demographics including race/ethnicity, age, and gender and how this has changed over time in New York City. A few studies have found that the racial disparities are present with regard to felony dispositions. We extend this work to misdemeanor dispositions. Implications for public policy and criminal justice reform will be discussed.

Authors

• Ervin Balazon, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

• Todd Warner, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

• Megan Welsh, San Diego State University

• Preeti Chauhan, John Jay College of Criminal Justice