Both the conflict perspective and the labeling perspective provide a the
oretical base for the hypothesis that nonwhites are more likely than whites to
be arrested on less than sufficient evidence. All 1974 adult arrests (N = 28,-
235) in a large midwestern city are analyzed to assess the relationship between
race and the subsequent issuance of a warrant by the prosecutor's office. Con
trols for type of offense, age, sex, and racial composition of neighborhood are
introduced, yet nonwhites continue to have a larger proportion of arrests
which are not upheld by the issuance of a warrant. These results are discussed
in terms of the conflict and labeling perspectives.
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