The impact of extralegal characteristics on recognizance release among misdemeanants. Issue 2 (2nd April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ortiz, Mia
• Is Part Of: Journal of ethnicity in criminal justice. Volume 14:Issue 2(2016)
• Page Start: 77
• Page End: 99
• Publication Date: 2016-04-02
• Subjects: Hispanic defendants -- misdemeanants -- pretrial release; Discrimination in criminal justice administration -- United States -- Periodicals; Crime and race -- United States -- Periodicals; Racism in criminology -- Periodicals; 364.089
• DOI: 10.1080/15377938.2015.1077760
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1537-7938

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is to direct attention to pretrial release decisions on low-level offenders and to assess whether certain characteristics influence the pretrial release outcome. Bivariate correlations and stepwise logistic regression were used to analyze a 2004 primary data set of misdemeanants considered for release on recognizance in a California court ( N = 539). The results showed that Hispanic defendants were more likely to be granted this condition of release. This finding is particularly noteworthy because it is in contrast with prior studies that found that defendants of color were less likely to be granted less restrictive release conditions. Furthermore, such a result may lead to imply that Hispanic Americans may be less stigmatized and more integrated in society.