American Indians and sentencing disparity: An Arizona test

Many Native American communities have long been beset by high rates of violent crime, much of it connected to alcohol and drugs.

“Furthermore, many Native American communities have long been beset by high rates of violent crime, much of it connected to alcohol and drugs (Alvarez & Bachman 1996, Dobie 2011).”

Negative stereotypes of Native Americans have perpetuated and encouraged general anti-Native American criminal justice system bias.

“Others have argued that negative stereotypes of Native Americans have perpetuated and encouraged general anti-Native American criminal justice system bias (Alvarez & Bachman 1996, Lieber et al. 2007, Perry 2006, Rouse & Hanson 1991, Zatz et al. 1991).”

Existing research has largely conceptualized the Native American experience through a racial/ethnic framework.

“Existing research has largely conceptualized the Native American experience through a racial/ethnic framework”

Native Americans are often stereotyped as disreputable others, characterized as lazy, alcoholic, and violent.

“Native Americans are often stereotyped as disreputable others, characterized as lazy, alcoholic, and violent (Alvarez & Bachman 1996, Holmes & Antell 2005, Perry 2006, Snipp 1992).”

Alvarez & Bachman (1996) found that Native Americans received longer sentences for robbery and burglary, whereas whites received longer sentences for homicide.

“their crime-specific models found that Native Americans received longer sentences for robbery and burglary, whereas whites received longer sentences for homicide.”