Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

This paper examines the social, cultural, and biological realities of the popular as well as scientific use of the terms race and ethnicity then examines the significance of “social distance” in the criminal justice context which frequently involves Negroids, Hispanics, and other nonwhite minorities. It provides an analysis of the possible impact of them is application of the concepts race and ethnicity, and thus, social distance, upon the crime commission, criminal victimization, and criminal justice processing of “Blacks” and other nonwhite ethnic and racial minorities. It concludes with seven pertinent research questions that could be explored which would further the understanding of the role race, ethnicity, and social distance play in the perpetration of crimes by minorities as well as the criminal victimization and criminal justice processing of minorities.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

AlIport

Postman

(1965). “The Basic Psychology of Rumor”. Pp. 47–58 in Proshansky

Seidenberg

(eds) Basic Studies in Social Psychology. New York: Holt, Rhinehart and Winston.

Bogardus

E. S.

(1968). “Comparing Racial Difference in Ethiopia, South Africa, and the United States”, Sociology and Social Research 52, 152.

Cohen

(Chief, Bureau of Staff Development, Florida Department of Corrections), (1992). Telephone interview, March 30.

Curtis

L. A.

(1975). Violence. Race and Culture. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books, D.C. Heath Publishers.

Florida Department of Corrections Bureau of Planning and Research. (1991). The Annual Report of the Florida Department of Corrections, 1990–1991. Tallahassee: Florida Department of Corrections, June 30.

Georges-Abeyie

D. E.

(1984). Criminal Justice System and Blacks. New York: Clark Boardman Co., Ltd.

Georges-Abeyie

D. E.

(1990). “Criminal Justice Processing of Non-White Minorities” in MacLean

B. D.

Milovanovic

(eds.) Racism, Empiricism and Criminal Justice, Vancouver, BC: The Collective Press, 25–34.

Georges-Abeyie

D. E.

(1990). “The Myth of a Racist Criminal Justice System?” in MacLean

B. D.

Milovanovic

(eds.) Racism, Empiricism and Criminal Justice, Vancouver, BC: The Collective Press, 11–14.

Georges-Abeyie

D. E.

(1989). “Race, Ethnicity, and the Spatial Dynamic: Toward a Realistic Study of Black Crime, Crime Victimization, and Criminal Justice Processing of Blacks.” Social Justice, 16 (4): 35–54.

10.

Georges-Abeyie

D. E.

(1981). “Studying Black Crime: A Realistic Approach” in Brantingham

P. J.

Brantingham

P. L.

(eds.) Environmental Criminology. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications.

11.

Gordon

M. M.

(1964). Assimilation and American Life: The Role of Race, Religion, and National Origin. New York: Oxford University Press.

12.

Harper

(Management Review and Jail Removal Specialist, Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services). (1992). Telephone interview, March 31.

13.

Landy

Aronson

(1969). “The Influence of the Character of the Criminal and His Victim on the Decisions of Simulated Jurors” Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. 5:141–152.

14.

Mayas

(1977). “Perceived Criminality: The Attribution of Criminal Race from News-Reported Crime” Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Michigan.

15.

McNeely

R.L.

Pope

C.E.

(eds). (1981). Race, Crime, and Criminal Justice. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications.

16.

Miller

Hewitt

(1978). “Conviction of a Defendant as a Function of Juror-Victim Racial Similarity” Journal of Social Psychology 105:159–160.

17.

Mitchell

G. E.

Jordan

D. C.

(1978). What Is Race? Wilmette, Illinois: Baha'i Publishing Trust.

18.

Montagu

(1972). Statement on Race. (New York: Oxford University Press.

19.

Parrillo

V. N.

(1985). Strangers to These Shores. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

20.

Schaefer

R. T.

(1988). Racial and Ethnic Groups. Glenview, IL: Glenview, 1988.

21.

Sexton

P. C.

(1965). Spanish Harlem: Anatomy of Poverty. New York: Harper Colophon Books, Harper & Row Publishers.

22.

Ugwuegbu

D. C. E.

(1976). “Black Juror's Personality Trial Attribution to a Rape Case Defendant” Social Behavior and Personality, 4:193–201.

23.

U.S. Department of Justice. (1990). Criminal Victimization in the United States. 1988: A National Crime Survey Report NCJ-122024. Washington: U. S. Government Printing Office, December.

24.

Wright

B. McM.

(1987). Black Robes, White Justice. Secaucus, NJ: Lyle Stuart Inc.

Defining Race,Ethnicity,and Social Distance: Their Impact on Crime,Criminal Victimization,and the Criminal Justice Processing of Minorities

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References