RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN ARREST.

The article reviews the controversial question whether police in the United States discriminate on racial grounds in making arrests. While the evidence initially appears confusing, even contradictory, closer analysis reveals a number of latent patterns. These patterns are also found in other areas of legal life. This discussion places the research literature within the more general sociological theory of law and, thereby, seeks to uncover the social logic, which governs the arrest behavior of police officers in matters of race. The standard definition of arrest is used in this article namely, the taking of a suspect to a police station. The concept of racial discrimination, which is discussed at more length below, is defined in terms of the differential disposition of cases by the police solely on the basis of the race of the parties. This is intended as a sociological definition only. A finding of discrimination in the text therefore does not necessarily imply that the police have violated any legal standards. Finally, although occasional reference is made to other ethnic groups.