Disparities in the Court System

Paper Summary:

This paper proposes quantitative research to determine if there is a disproportionate participation in crime by African Americans and Hispanic individuals. The author points out that it is extremely important to understand the biases that exist in sentencing African Americans and Hispanics so that this condition can be corrected. The paper describes research that proposes calculating disparity in sentencing through use of multiple regression statistical analysis that will consider many dependent variables.

Table of Contents:
Research Design
Setting Where Research is to be Conducted
Independent and Dependent Variables
Dependent variable
Independent Variables
Data Collection Method
Analysis of Data
Disparity Ratio
Implication of Proposed Research
Importance of Research
Significance of Research
Appendix
Instruments to be Used in the Proposed Research

From the Paper:

"Further analysis of data will be conducted through multiple regression statistical analysis in which the dependent variable, the race and gender of offenders will = X and the independent variables in a multivariate regression model will = Y. Building a regression model for multivariate analysis includes collection of predictor and response values for common samples, and then fitting a predefined mathematical relationship to the collected data. Multivariate analysis is also referred to as factor analysis in which several predictive variables are simultaneously taken into account resulting in more accuracy."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Crutchfield, R.D., Bridges, G. S., & Pitchford, S.R. (1994). Analytical and aggregate biases in analyses if imprisonment: Reconciling discrepancies in studies of racial disparity. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 31, 196-218
• Curry, Gang Lee; and Rodriguez (2004) Does Victim Gender Increase Sentence Severity? Further Explorations of Gender Dynamics and Sentencing Outcomes. National Council on Crime and Delinquency. 2004; 50; 319. Online available at: http://cad.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/50/3/319.pdf
• Johnson, Thomas L. Johnson and Heilman, Cheryl Widder (2001) An Embarrassment to All Minnesotans; Racial Disparity in the Criminal Justice System. Bench & Bar. May/June 2001. Online available at: http://www2.mnbar.org/benchandbar/2001/may-jun01/racial-disparity.htm
• Logan, John R. (2003) How Race Counts for Hispanic Americans. Lewis Mumford Center for Comparative Urban and Regional Research. State University of New York at Albany
• Mueller, Lisa; Connelley, Michael, and Pingel, Jim (2004) Race and Sentencing in Wisconsin: A Monograph Series. Report Number 1. Starting Points: The State and National Landscape. May 2004. Online available at: http://www.oja.wi.gov/docview.asp?docid=10975

More papers on Disparities in the Court System:

• Essay # 59862 : "The American Criminal Justice System"
• Comparison Essay # 39028 : "Hispanics and the Legal System"
• Analytical Essay # 94885 : "Discrimination versus Disparity"

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