Citation

Jacobs D, Malone C, Iles G. Sociol. Q. 2012; 53(2): 166-187.

Affiliation

Ohio State University.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Midwest Sociological Society, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

22616115

Abstract

The effects of lynchings on criminal justice outcomes have seldom been examined. Recent findings also are inconsistent about the effects of race on imprisonments. This study uses a pooled time-series design to assess lynching and racial threat effects on state imprisonments from 1972 to 2000. After controlling for Republican strength, conservatism, and other factors, lynch rates explain the growth in admission rates. The findings also show that increases in black residents produce subsequent expansions in imprisonments that likely are attributable to white reactions to this purported menace. But after the percentage of blacks reaches a substantial threshold--and the potential black vote becomes large enough to begin to reduce these harsh punishments--reductions in prison admissions occur. These results also confirm a political version of racial threat theory by indicating that increased Republican political strength produces additional imprisonments.

Language: en