TY - JOUR
T1 - Incarceration rates and demographic changes
T2 - A test of the demographic change hypothesis
AU - MacKenzie, Doris Layton
AU - Tracy, George S.
AU - Williams, George
N1 - Funding Information:
This investigation was supported in part by a grant from the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections (National Institute of Corrections Technical Assistant Grant) to the Louisiana State University. Appreciation is expressed to the LDPSC personnel and especially to Evita P. Key and John W. Nipper for supplying data and information from the Department.
PY - 1988
Y1 - 1988
N2 - The increase in the incarceration rate in Louisiana was examined as a function of changes in the demographic distribution in the state. Increases in crime-prone groups in the population were not found to be associated with increased prison admission rates. Admission rates for the demographically disaggregated groups changed over time, and the pattern of changes varied depending upon the group examined. There was a relatively small growth in the prison population from 1975 to 1980, and over eighty-five percent of the growth could be explained by demographic changes. In contrast, from 1980 to 1983 there was substantial growth in the prison population, yet only 6.7 percent of the growth could be attributed to demographic shifts. Possible reasons for the pattern of changes found for the different age, race, and sex groups and for the large admission rate increases in the early 1980s are discussed.
AB - The increase in the incarceration rate in Louisiana was examined as a function of changes in the demographic distribution in the state. Increases in crime-prone groups in the population were not found to be associated with increased prison admission rates. Admission rates for the demographically disaggregated groups changed over time, and the pattern of changes varied depending upon the group examined. There was a relatively small growth in the prison population from 1975 to 1980, and over eighty-five percent of the growth could be explained by demographic changes. In contrast, from 1980 to 1983 there was substantial growth in the prison population, yet only 6.7 percent of the growth could be attributed to demographic shifts. Possible reasons for the pattern of changes found for the different age, race, and sex groups and for the large admission rate increases in the early 1980s are discussed.
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U2 - 10.1016/0047-2352(88)90052-9
DO - 10.1016/0047-2352(88)90052-9
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:38249032330
SN - 0047-2352
VL - 16
SP - 241
EP - 253
JO - Journal of Criminal Justice
JF - Journal of Criminal Justice
IS - 3
ER -
