Randomized trial examines racial bifurcation's impact on incarceration trends, suggesting broader implications for social control.
Key Points
This study aims to explore racial bifurcation as a predictor of incarceration rates and its implications for social control across different demographic settings.
Utilized fixed-effects regression analysis using data from 1772 US counties from 1990 to 2023.
Compared longitudinal associations between various demographic indicators of threat and overall incarceration rates.
Focused on the relationships between percentage Black, racial diversity, and racial bifurcation.
Racial bifurcation and racial diversity consistently predicted overall incarceration variations, peaking near demographic parity.
Percentage Black displayed inconsistent effects on incarceration rates
Findings indicate that when groups share a legal process, punitiveness intended for specific groups ultimately harms all.