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The Influence of Skin Color on the Likelihood of Experiencing Arrest in Adulthood

Finkeldey, Jessica Grace
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1403293558

Abstract Details

2014, Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, Sociology.
Research has long documented that darker skinned people generally experience more social and economic disadvantage than those with lighter skin, but little research has examined the effect of skin tone on criminal justice system outcomes. The few studies that have been conducted tend to find darker black and Latino individuals are treated harsher than their lighter counterparts, but most of these studies focus on disparities in sentencing. Only two studies have examined the effect of skin color on police contact. In addition, researchers have yet to examine how skin color affects CJS outcomes for other minority groups. Furthermore, most studies rely on official institutional data. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, the current research examined the influence skin color has on adult arrests for black, Latino, Asian, and white respondents. The current study is important because it goes beyond studies on racial disparities in arrest by examining skin color as a characteristic associated with race and ethnicity. Analyses revealed that darker skinned individuals were more likely to experience an arrest than those with lighter skin, although the relationship between skin tone and arrest was moderated by gender within some racial/ethnic subgroups. Specifically, darker skin tones were associated with adult arrests for black men, Latino men and women, Asian women, and white men and women. In addition, age and irritability magnified the relationship between skin color and arrest for Latinos. Notably, the relationship between skin tone and arrest for these subgroups persisted even after controlling for deviant behavior; thus, darker skinned individuals were not more likely to be arrested because they were more deviant. Furthermore, this study found some evidence that other life outcomes, especially education, act as pathways that explain why darker skin might lead to adult arrests. Overall, the current research indicates skin tone is an important characteristic that affects the likelihood of experiencing an arrest in adulthood.
Stephen Demuth (Advisor)
Gary Oates (Committee Member)
Matthew VanEseltine (Committee Member)
73 p.
Criminology; Sociology
Skin Color; Arrest; Colorism; Race; Add Health

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Finkeldey, J. G. (2014). The Influence of Skin Color on the Likelihood of Experiencing Arrest in Adulthood [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1403293558

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Finkeldey, Jessica. The Influence of Skin Color on the Likelihood of Experiencing Arrest in Adulthood. 2014. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1403293558.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Finkeldey, Jessica. "The Influence of Skin Color on the Likelihood of Experiencing Arrest in Adulthood." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1403293558

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2014, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.
Release 3.2.12