Differing Perceptions of Criminal Justice and Views of Law Enforcement: A Cluster-Analytic Approach to Racial-Ethnic Identities.

The article focuses on examining racial-ethnic identities using a dimensional approach through the Cross Ethnic-Racial Identity Scale-Adult (CERIS-A) to better understand variations in perceptions of law enforcement and criminal justice among juror-eligible adults. A cluster analysis of CERIS-A subscales identified four cross-racial groups with distinct identity profiles, which corresponded to differing views on police legitimacy, fairness, and the death penalty. Notably, the cluster characterized by strong multiculturalist and racial-ethnic identity exhibited more negative perceptions of police lawfulness and fairness, as well as greater opposition to the death penalty, compared to other clusters. The study highlights the importance of considering within-group diversity in racial-ethnic identity rather than relying on nominal racial categories, suggesting that such nuanced approaches can deepen understanding of attitudes toward the criminal justice system.