Causes of Offending: An Examination of the Theory of African American Offending

• In Event: Theories of Conflict, Oppression, and Inequality

Abstract

Black men have a 1 in 3 chance of being under the supervision of the Criminal Justice System at any time in their life. There are many explanations as to why Black men disproportionately offend—many scholars posit this phenomenon is the result of the slavery historical context in the U.S. This paper intends to address how the unique experiences of Black men contribute to offending and experiences with the criminal justice system.
Specifically, this study tests the Theory of African American Offending (TAAO) utilizing a sample of Black males residing in Florida aged 18-25. Drs. Unnever and Gabbidon proposed TAAO to explain African Americans' risks and resilience to offending. As a result, this paper hypothesizes Black males who perceived greater awareness of racial discrimination are more likely to engage in criminal activity. Preliminary findings of the data will be discussed. Future research should continue to examine the underlying mechanisms and causes explaining why Black males are disproportionately represented in all facets of the criminal justice system.

Author

• Carl L. Reeds, University of South Florida