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Ever since the highly publicized Texas case in which a wealthy, Caucasian teenager invoked ‘affluenza’ as a mitigating factor during his homicide trial, public discourse has debated the appropriateness of considering wealth during criminal sentences. Underlying this debate is a question about race: would a black defendant have the same chance of successfully using the affluenza defense? Intersectionality suggests that considerations of class, as implicated by the affluenza debate, are necessarily conditioned by understandings of race. This research examines whether public opinion supports the idea that extreme wealth contributes to criminal offending; whether affluence should be considered during sentencing; and whether a black defendant would able to use the affluenza defense successfully. Examining public opinion data from a statewide poll in Pennsylvania, this research explores public opinion on affluenza and examines whether race and other demographic characteristics influence the attribution process. The researchers use multivariate models to investigate significant predictors tied to respondents’ opinions, and they make observations about the impact of these factors on due process in sentencing procedures. This research provides an important first step in exploring whether the public perceives affluenza to be related to offending, related punitiveness, and the interplay of race with that attribution process. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper tests core tenets of the theory of African-American offending proposed by Unnever and Gabbidon. Their theory posits that African-Americans have a common worldview on matters of race that is related to their offending. However, Unnever and Gabbidon further hypothesize that immigrant blacks do not fully embrace the worldview shared by US-born blacks. Using a 2008 national Gallup poll, we examine whether US-born blacks share a common worldview and whether foreign-born blacks differ in their opinions on key issues including: criminal injustices, the state of American race relations, attitudes towards immigration and illegal immigrants, and the perception of mobility within American society. The results partially confirm their two key hypotheses; there are no entrenched differences in the public opinions of US-born blacks on race-related matters while immigrant blacks do not wholly endorse their worldview. We discuss the implications of these two findings in relation to how scholars conceptualize offending among blacks. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study examined a national sample of more than 600 Black Americans and their views on bias in the American criminal justice system. The research found that 26% of the Black respondents did not believe there was bias in the American criminal justice system. To explore the segment of respondents holding these views, we separated the sample into Blacks who believe there is bias in the system (referred to as the discrimination thesis or DT supporters) and those who opposed this belief (referred to as the no-discrimination thesis or NDT supporters). The NDT supporters were more likely to be younger, male, less educated, and have lower income than those respondents who supported the DT. NDT supporters were also more likely to believe that Blacks and Whites had equal job opportunities, have more confidence in the police, and believe that racism was not widespread. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of race in explaining perceived criminal injustice through an examination of the Trayvon Martin shooting. The study was grounded in the racial gradient thesis. We utilized the 2012USA Today/Gallup Poll data of a nationally representative sample of more than 2000 respondents. The sample included African-Americans, Hispanics, and Whites. African-Americans were the racial group most likely to believe that criminal injustice surrounded the Trayvon Martin shooting. Hispanics generally perceived more criminal injustice than Whites regarding the shooting, though this difference was not always statistically significant. Past mistreatment of minorities likely explained much of the differences in perceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article examines the results of research that analyzed asset forfeiture litigation from the U.S. Court of Appeals. More specifically, the research focused on the characteristics and outcomes of 193 cases in which plaintiffs were seeking the return of assets. The research also examined the predictors of success for plaintiffs in these cases. Among the findings, we found that most assets were seized through criminal proceedings and involved cash forfeitures. When forfeiture proceedings began, however, 94% were carried out using the civil process. Plaintiffs lost most of the cases, but several variables significantly increased or decreased the likelihood of winning. When the plaintiff was a corporation, and when the case originated through the criminal asset forfeiture proceeding, the likelihood of the plaintiff prevailing increased. However, gender (specifically, being male), third-party involvement, and cash forfeitures reduced the likelihood of the plaintiff ’s winning. This article discusses the implications of these findings and suggests future directions for asset forfeiture research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue on topics including racism and crimes regarding African Americans, racial discrimination in the U.S., and racial disparities in outcomes of criminal justice.

This article explores citizens' views on racial profiling at airports. A recent Gallup poll allowed for analyses of the perception of Blacks, Hispanics, and Whites concerning whether they felt racial profiling at airports was widespread and/or justified. Multivariate analyses revealed that Blacks were more likely than Whites to believe profiling at airports was widespread. There were, however, no differences between the opinions of Whites and Hispanics on the extent of profiling in airports. Racial and ethnic minorities were less likely than Whites to believe that profiling at airports was justified. The implications of the results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has identified strong effects of race on the evaluations of police performance. This research expands on past research by investigating public opinion related to Black treatment by the police. Recent Gallup poll data were examined to determine whether race and ethnicity influenced citizens' views on the treatment of Blacks in comparison to Whites by the police. In addition, the authors examined whether race relations affected citizens' views on the treatment of Blacks by the police. On both fronts, support was found for the influence of these factors. Demographic variables such as age, gender, education, employment status, region, and political ideology were also significantly related to public opinion regarding the perceived treatment of Blacks by the police. After contextualizing these results, the authors discuss the implication of the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the nature of wrongful death lawsuits involving police officers in the United States. By reviewing state-level cases, the authors determine the circumstances surrounding the incidents. More specifically, the authors note characteristics such as the parties typically involved in the cases, the situation in which the deaths occurred, the location of the incidents, the status of the deceased (suspect/nonsuspect), the number of officers involved in the incidents, the specific reasons for the suits, and the outcomes of the cases. Multivariate analyses were also performed to determine the strongest predictors of success in these suits. The implications of the research for police officers and citizens are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much research has been done on African Americans' political behavior. However, the role of stressful life events on participation has not often been explored. This research carries out a state-level analysis to determine what effects stressors and their effects have on African Americans' political behavior. Results suggest a place for stressful events in predicting participation. Implications of the findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article looks into several racial profiling civil suits in federal courts in the U.S. from 1990-2002. Most of the plaintiffs in these cases were Black Americans and followed by Hispanics. An examination of the facts surrounding the cases depicted that in 56.3% of the suits, the person making the claim that he or she was racially profiled was found engaging in criminal activity. As for the outcomes of the cases, the plaintiffs won in only 31.1% of the cases. The author concludes that the declining number of racial profiling cases is indicative of the sensitivity of police officers to the adverse effect of the practice.

Building on Todd Clear's (2001) recent declaration that academic criminal justice has come of age, this study examines chairs in American criminology and criminal justice programs. By way of survey, chairpersons (n = 78) randomly selected from programs across the United States were questioned in a number of areas related to their positions. The study finds that chairs in these programs are struggling with the same concerns as chairs in other academic disciplines (i.e., competing roles and job-related stress). As such, while many of them are fairly satisfied with their positions, most of them plan on returning to the faculty once their term is completed. Based on the results of the research, there were two clear implications. First, because of the onerous time demands, young scholars are to be discouraged from taking on significant administrative responsibilities until they have been promoted, tenured, and have achieved some level of accomplishment within the discipline. Second, scholars who are currently chairs and have ambitions of moving through the administrative ranks should be encouraged to do so. As more criminologists progress through the administrative ranks, it is anticipated that the discipline will be viewed and treated more favorably within American universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the experiences of a select group of faculty (N = 37) from across the country who teach courses related to race and crime. Using survey methodology, the researchers solicited the faculty members' views on the course as well as their experience in teaching the course. The research was also designated to determine the receptivity of students to the course, as well as the nature of the evaluation scores of instructors who teach these courses. Most instructors reported having had a good teaching experience and felt the course should be required. Respondents also indicated that their teaching evaluation scores for race and crime courses were generally in line with their scores for other courses. The research found very minimal differences between the teaching evaluation scores of white and nonwhite race and crime instructors. Students were perceived to be generally enthusiastic about taking this course. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Presents a study that examined shopping while black (SWB), which is the practice of racial profiling in retail settings in the U.S. Discussion on the issue of racial profiling in retail trade settings; Elaboration on the concept of SWB in several criminological perspectives; Information on SWB in literature; Summary of SWB cases; Characteristics of SWB cases.

Presents a case study that examined the role of race and course content in the teaching evaluation scores of an African American criminologist teaching at a predominantly white institution. History of African American instructors in higher education; Role of African American instructors in the emergence and application of multicultural movements; Effect of race and course content on the teaching evaluation scores of African American criminologists.

Profiles the late W.E.B. Du Bois and his contributions to the academic discipline of criminology in the United States. How Du Bois' interest in the subject of crime and justice began; Mentors who have directed him to the criminology field; Studies made by Du Bois on crime; Remedies proposed by Du Bois.

Assesses the long-term impacts of the 1995 Million Man March of African American men in Washington, D.C. on participants, three years after the event. Purpose of the march, which was organized by Louis Farrakhan; Survey of 40 participants located at a small historically black college in the northeastern United States; Their behavior following the march; Evidence that the event had a longstanding effect on those who participated, including increased community activism and spirituality.

Reviews the earliest crime polls conducted in the United States. History of crime polls in the country; Information on the crime rate in Afro-American community; Analysis of W.E.B. DuBois' efforts in crime poll research; Findings of DuBoi's research program in 1904.

Re-examines the status of criminal justice education at historically black colleges and universities in the United States. Bachelor's and master's degrees in criminal justice; Employment in criminal justice agencies; Employment in higher education; Afro-Americans in criminal justice.

Addresses the question as to why "Criminal Justice Studies" is publishing a special edition on race and justice. Belief that race is one of the most important topics in criminal justice; Increase in the scope of race and justice research, noting a focus on other minorities such as Native Americans, Latinos, and Asian Americans; Review of the articles published in this issue, noting they deal with minorities and the criminal justice system.