Charging data disaggregated by race can flag prosecutorial bias

Evidence

In addition to an objective decision-making tool, systemic approaches also exist. For example, prosecution offices should begin to collect and store information on racial demographics at each point of the charging and sentencing process. Such an information collecting measure should be shared with stakeholders and consistently reviewed for trends and patterns for prosecutorial success (Smith & Levinson, 2012). Prosecutors we have worked with have used charging data disaggregated by race while making charging decisions to ensure that they are not engaging in either preferential treatment or overly harsh treatment by race. — Joseph Avery, Jim Sidanius, Joel Cooper, Gregory Davis, Amanda N., Bias in the Law, 1399

Categorization

• XREF: Bears on the reader’s measurement question: institutional data monitoring as a check distinct from self-reported conviction.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Joseph Avery, Jim Sidanius, Joel Cooper, Gregory Davis, Amanda N., Bias in the Law: A Definitive Look at…, 1399