Legislative Intent, Police Discretion, and Racial Disparities in the Criminal Legal System

• In Event: Racial Bias in the Criminal Justice System

Brief Overview

Where laws are specific, racial disparities correlate with intent; where laws are ambiguous, disparities relate to police discretion. Legislative action or inaction in the face of observed disparities provides further evidence of legislative intent.

Authors

• Kaneesha R. Johnson, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Marty A Davidson, University of Wisconsin–Madison

• Frank R. Baumgartner, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill