11.8: Intersectional Analysis of Criminal Justice Disparities

Intersectionality theory, developed by Kimberlé Crenshaw (1989), provides a framework for understanding how multiple systems of oppression and identity categories interact to create unique experiences of marginalization and privilege. Research demonstrates that intersectional effects are multiplicative rather than merely additive. The experience of being a young Black man from a poor neighborhood reflects unique vulnerabilities and stereotypes associated with this intersection (Potter, 2015).

Race, Gender, and Age Intersections

Young Black men face extraordinarily high rates of criminal justice contact. For Black men aged 18-24, lifetime arrest probability approaches 50%, compared to approximately 15% for White men in the same age group (Shannon et al., 2017). Black women experience arrest and incarceration at rates 2-3 times higher than White women, though absolute rates are much lower than for men of any race. Black women's justice involvement is often linked to poverty, trauma, and responsibilities as primary caregivers (Ocen, 2019).

Race, Class, and Neighborhood Context

The intersection of race and poverty creates concentrated disadvantages in many communities. Poor Black and Latine neighborhoods experience both higher crime rates and more intensive policing than poor White neighborhoods (Peterson & Krivo, 2019). Research demonstrates that racial segregation and economic segregation combine to create extreme concentrations of arrest and incarceration. In some census tracts in major cities, more than half of adult Black men have been imprisoned at some point (Clear, 2018).