Ross Macmillian
Race and Perception of Justice


Wortley, Scott, Hagan, John, and Ross Macmillan. 1997. "Just Des(s)erts? The Racial
Polarization of Perceptions of Criminal Injustice." Law & Society Review
31(4):637-676.


Theory. This study uses competing theories from the sociology of deviance as a framework from which to examine racial differences in perceptions of the criminal justice system. The researchers investigate the effects of media coverage on individuals' perceptions of the criminal justice system. Specifically, they look at the effects of a very well publicized criminal event that serendipitously occurred in the middle of data collection of a larger public opinion survey.

Design. The focus of the study was a public opinion survey, the objective of which was to make comparisons between blacks, whites, and Asians. The sample for the larger survey, which represented the universe of residents in Toronto, was drawn through random-digit dialing. Blacks and Asians were deliberately over-sampled in order to get a balanced sample.

Measurement. The data used in this research come from a public opinion survey comprising approximately 1,500 residents of Toronto, Ontario. The primary purpose of the survey was to measure variation in public perceptions of criminal justice. Respondents were asked a series of questions about the treatment of groups relative to others, treatment by police and by judges, and how often they thought differential treatment occurred.

Data Analysis. The analysis was based primarily on regression models with interaction terms using conventional t-tests of significance.

Interpretation. Overall, the researchers found that, across the whole sample, media coverage had a small effect on attitudes and perceptions toward injustice in the criminal justice system. When broken down by background variables, however, some groups were found to experience a greater consensus effect. This seems to be a function of one's background, experiences with the criminal justice system, and education.

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