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Race and Misdemeanor Sentencing

University of Northern Iowa

Anita N. Blowers

University of North Carolina, Charlotte

This research examines the validity of an integrative theoretical approach that consists of the "liberation hypothesis" and the "focal concerns" perspective to assess the extent racial discrimination is likely to occur in misdemeanor decision making involving less serious cases. We examined decisions involving the prioritizing of cases, the granting of a continuance, conviction, and incarceration in a large county court in a southeastern state. The results fail to provide support for the belief that the likelihood of race effects is increased in cases involving less severity. Race, however, is found to influence misdemeanor decision making directly and indirectly and in interaction with a number of independent variables. The implications of the findings for future research and policy are discussed.

Key Words: race • misdemeanors • court processing • indirect effects

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