Abstract
A method, adopted from the labor econometrics literature, is proposed for detecting discrimination in punishment. The method requires the separate estimation of time served and punishment probability equations for, say, whites and blacks. The coefficients from the white equation are used to predict the punishment blacks would receive if treated like whites. A test of no discrimination against blacks is a test that the black punishment predicted by the black equation is equal to the punishment predicted by the equation using the white coefficients but the black “endowments” or characteristics. A further test is proposed that evaluates the economic “efficiency” of disparities in punishment. The test is restricted to measuring the recidivism effect of equality of treatment in punishment. The discrimination test and the efficiency test are illustrated using the U.S. Board of Parole data for 1972. Statistically significant racial disparities in punishment are uncovered and are found to be economically inefficient.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bell, D., and Lang, K. (1983). Intake disposition of juvenile offenders, Unpublished manuscript. School of Social Science, University of California at Irvine, Irvine.
Blinder, A. S. (1973). Wage discrimination: Reduced form and structural estimates.J. Hum. Resources 4: 436–455.
Blau, F. D. (1984). Discrimination against women: Theory and evidence. In Darity, W. A., Jr. (ed.),Labor Economics: Modern Views, Maritinus Nijhoff, Boston.
Block, M. K., and Heineke, J. M. (1975). A labor theoretic analysis of the criminal choice.Am. Econ. Rev. 65: 314–325.
Blumstein, A. (1982). On the racial disproportionality of United States' prison population.J. Crim. Law Criminol. 73: 1259–1281.
Blumstein, A., Cohen, J., Marhn, S. E., and Torry, M. H., (1983).Research on Sentencing: The Search for Reform, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.
Brilmayer, L. (1982). Comment.J. Am. Stat. Assoc. 77: 789–790.
Butler, R. J. (1982). Estimating wage discrimination in the labor market.J. Hum. Resources 71: 606–622.
Chaiken, J. M., and Chaiken, M. R. (1982a).Varieties of Criminal Behavior, R-2814-NIJ, Rand, Santa Monica, Calif.
Chiaken, J. M., and Chiaken, M. R., with Peterson, J. E. (1982b).Varieties of Criminal Behavior: Summary and Policy Implications, R-2814/1NIJ, Rand, Santa Monica, Calif.
Cohen, J., and Tonry, M. (1983). Sentencing reforms and their impact. In Blumstein, A.,et al. (eds.),Research on Sentencing: The Search for Reform, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., pp. 405–459.
Duncan, O. D. (1967). Inheritance of poverty or inheritance of race? In Moynihan, D. P. (ed.),On Understanding Poverty, Basic Books, New York, pp. 85–110.
Elion, V. H., and Megargee, E. I. (1979). Racial identity, length of incarceration, and parole decision making.J. Res. Crime Delinq. 16: 232–235.
Feagin, J. R. (1975). Institutional discrimination: A working paper. U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
Finkelstein, M. O. (1980). The judicial reception of multiple regression in studies in race and discrimination cases.Columbia Law Rev. 80: 737–754.
Fisher, F. M., and Kadane, J. B. (1983). Empirically based sentencing guidelines and ethical considerations. In Blumstein, A.,et al. (eds.),Research on Sentencing: The Search for Reform, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., pp. 184–194.
Garber, S., Klepper, S., and Nagin, D. (1983). The role of extralegal factors in determining criminal case disposition. In Blumstein, A.,et al. (eds.),Research on Sentencing: The Search for Reform, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., pp. 129–183.
Garfinkel, I., and Haveman, R. (1979).Earnings Capacity, Poverty, and Inequality, Academic Press, New York.
Gibson, J. (1978). Race as a determinant of criminal sentences: A methodological critique and a case study.Law Soc. Rev. 12: 455–478.
Hagan, J., and Bumiller, K. (1983). Making sense of sentencing: A review and critique of sentencing research. In Blumstein, A.,et al. (eds.),Research on Sentencing: The Search for Reform, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., pp. 305–459.
Hashimoto, M., and Kochin, L. (1980). A bias in the statistical estimation of the effects of discrimination.Econ. Inquiry 18: 478–486.
Hindelang, M. J. (1978). Equality under the law.Law Soc. Rev. 12: 455–478.
Hindelang, M. J. (1979). Race and involvement in common law personal crimes.Am. Sociol. Rev. 43: 93–109.
Hoffman, P. (1983). Screening for risk: A revised salient factor score (SFS).J. Crim. Just. 11: 539–541.
Hoffman, P., and Meierhoeffer, B. (1979). Post-release arrest experience of federal prisoners: A six-year follow-up.J. Crim. Just. 7: 193–216.
Kamalich, R. F., and Polachek, S. W. (1982). Discrimination: Fact or fiction? An examination using an alternative approach.South. Econ. J. 49: 450–461.
Kaye, D. (1982). Statistical evidence of discrimination.J. Am. Stat. Assoc. 77: 773–783.
Klepper, S., Nagin, D., and Tierney, L.-J. (1983). Discrimination in the criminal justice system: A critical appraisal of the literature. In Blumstein, A.,et al. (eds.),Research on Sentencing: The Search for Reform, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., pp. 55–128.
Lizotte, A. J. (1977). Extra-legal factors in Chicago's criminal courts: Testing the confiict model of criminal justice.Soc. Problems 25(5): 564–580.
Marquis, K. H., Jr., with Ebener, P. (1981).Quality of Prisoner Self-Reports: Arrests and Convictions Response Errors, R-2637-DOJ, Rand, Santa Monica, Calif.
Myers, S. L., Jr. (1979). The incidence of justice. In Gray, C. M. (ed.),The Cost of Crime, Sage, Beverly Hills, Calif.
Myers, S. L., Jr. (1980a). The rehabilitation effect of punishment.Econ. Inquiry 18: 353–366.
Myers, S. L., Jr. (1980b). Black-white differentials in crime rates.Rev. Black Polit. Econ. 10: 133–152.
Myers, S. L., Jr. (1983). Estimating the economic model of crime: Employment versus punishment effects.Q. J. Econ. 48: 157–166.
Neyman, J., and Scott, E. (1960). Correction for bias introduced by transformation of variables.Ann. Math. Stat. 31: 643–655.
Peterson, R., and Hagan, J. (1984). Changing conceptions of race: Toward an account of anomalous findings of sentencing research.Am. Sociol. Rev. 47: 56–70.
Sellin, T. (1976).Slavery and the Penal System, Elsevier, New York.
Theil, H. (1971).Principles of Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, New York.
Witte, A. D. (1980). Estimating the economic model of crime and individual data.Q. J. Econ. 44: 57–84.
Witte, A. D. (1983). Estimating the economic model of crime: Reply.Q. J. Econ. 48: 167–175.
Wolfgang, M. E., and Cohen, B. (1970).Crime and Race: Conceptions and Misconceptions, Institute of Human Relations Press, American Jewish Committee, New York.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Myers, S.L. Statistical tests of discrimination in punishment. J Quant Criminol 1, 191–218 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01062214
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01062214