An Investigation Into Equity in Navy Discipline
Abstract
Navy-wide disciplinary data indicate that minority personnel receive non-judicial punishments (NJPs) and are awarded courts-martial at a higher rate than the majority group. The Navy Personnel Research and Development Center was tasked to investigate the equity in discipline issue. Data were collected at 15 San Diego afloat and shore commands from aB Report and Disposition of Offense(s) forms and records of completed courts-martial cases for the 6-month period. The previous disciplinary histories, types of current offenses, and disposition of the cases were compared across racial/ethnic group. Black personnel in this sample had a higher rate of NJP involvement than their White counterparts. The only difference found in the types of offenses was that Blacks more often were charged with violating Article 91, insubordination, than were Whites. No differences were found across groups in the types and extent of punishments given. Additional comparisons revealed that, although first-termers, non- designated personnel, and personnel aboard ships have higher disciplinary rates, any overrepresentation of Blacks among these three groups was not sufficient to account for Blacks' higher rate of disciplinary involvement. The results also show that multiple offenders account for almost 40 percent of the total number of NJPs; there was no difference in the rates of multiple offenses across racial/ethnic group. Lastly, current annual assessment statistics based solely on punishments that affect pay provide a reasonable estimate of all offenses: punishments affecting pay comprised about 90 percent of the cases overall. The data collected generally revealed no differential treatment in the formal discipline system at these commands.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA255220
Entities
People
- Amy L. Culbertson
- Paul Magnusson