Racial and Ethnic Disparities (RED) in the Criminal Justice System in Nebraska

NCJR director, Dr. Ryan Spohn, recently collaborated with UNO’s Center for Public Affairs Research and School of Criminology and Criminal Justice faculty to publish a research brief examining racial and ethnic disparities (RED) in Nebraska at three different points of contact with the criminal justice system: arrests, incarceration, and participation in community corrections. The report indicates racial disparities at all three points of contact. When taking into account the state population, African Americans are overrepresented and whites are underrepresented in terms of both arrest and incarceration. However, despite their overrepresentation in arrests, African Americans were underrepresented in community-based diversion programs, such as: Community Based Intervention (CBI), Community Based Resources (CBR), and Problem Solving Courts (PSCs). The findings highlight the need for continued research on RED in the criminal justice system at all points of contact. The full report can be found here.