Justice for all? Race and perceptions of bias in the Ontario criminal justice system – A Toronto survey

Abstract

This paper extends previous work on conflict theory by examining racial differences in the perception of criminal injustice. The data are taken from a 1994 general population survey ofblack, Chinese and white residents in Toronto, Ontario. Initial results indicate that blacks are more likely to perceive discrimination within the criminaljustice system than either whites or Asians and that these racial differences persist after controlling for various demographic variables. Additional analysis suggests that racial differences in perceptions of injustice are at least partially explained by differences in experiences with the police and the courts. While police contact increases perceptions ofinjusticefor blacks, it has no impact on the perceptions of whites or Asians. Furthermore, while court contact increases perceptions ofinjusticefor all respondents, the effect is more pronounced among black respondents. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.