Article



Dados vol. 42 n. 4 Rio de Janeiro 1999

Suspect individuals: the color of men accused of rape within the flow of the criminal justice system

Vargas, Joana Domingues

Abstract

The article explores to what extent the color of men accused of rape influences decisions made within the criminal justice system. It follows the flow of people and paper through the system’s various arenas, including police departments, the Ministério Público, and criminal courts. Based on data produced by these bodies, it is concluded that black defendants are discriminated against and that race is a factor which breeds inequality in an accumulative fashion, right from the police stage of the process.

Keywords: race, rape, sex crimes, criminal justice system

DOI: 10.1590/S0011-52581999000400004

Full text

Suspect individuals: the color of men accused of rape within the flow of the criminal justice system