Race On Trial Summary

When looking at illegal actions and activities, also known as crimes, people of all color commit them. Whether people commit lesser or more excessive crimes, the action will be committed by a multitude of races. People of all colors are able to achieve the standards that have been set by society. When looking at the statistics, the evidence shows that people of color, especially African Americans tend to get harder and more solemn charges for the crimes that they have committed. What people might not notice is that there is a racial bias in the judicial system. That bias is changing the outcome of indictments. With all of the change going on in the United States of America, one untouched subject is the racial bias in the judicial system. If a change does not occur now, then when will there ever be a change? There is a racial bias in the judicial system, and a change needs to occur now.

According to Sentencing Project.org “Racial disparity in the criminal justice system exists when the proportion of a racial or ethnic group within the control of the system is greater than the pro-portion of such groups in the general population.” This article says the inequality can vary upon different levels of criminal activity, law enforcement and decision making. “Law enforcement emphasis on particular communities, legislative policies, and/or decision making by criminal justice practitioners who exercise broad discretion in the justice process at one or more stages in the system.” (Sentenceproject.org) The expansion of the criminal justice system reinforces race and class inequalities in the United States thorough mass incarcerations that are constantly increasing, imperceptible to most, and affects multiple generations.

It appears that the criminal justice system is racially biased. Instead of the criminal justice system giving all of the citizens of the United States of America the same civil treatment, it treats all individuals differently based upon the color of an individual’s skin. What does it mean to be racially biased? Being racially biased is known as to judge one by his or her physical appearance. Treating people of color unfairly is still common to this day. The criminal justice system is racially biased in its law enforcement, prisons, and court systems.

At the prosecution stage, African Americans are subject to racially biased charges and plea agreements (TLC, 2011). African Americans are less likely to have their charges dismissed or reduced or to receive any kind of alternate sentencing than their white counterparts (TLC, 2011). In the last stage, the finding of guilt and sentencing, the decisions of jurors may be affected by race (Toth et al, 2008) African Americans receive racially discriminatory sentences from judges (TLC, 2011). A New York study from 1990 to 1992 revealed one-third of minorities would have receive a lesser sentence if they were treated the same as white and there would have been a 5 percent decrease in African Americans sent to prison during that time period if they had received the same probation privileges (TLC, 2011). African Americans receive death sentences more than whites who have committed similar crimes (Toth et al, 2008). Because of the unfair treatment from the beginning to the end of the justice system there is an over represented amount of African Americans in prison (Toth et al, 2008). Some of the problems faced by African Americans in prison are gangs, racial preferences given to whites, and unfair treatment by prison guards (Toth et al, 2008).

“In 2010, the U.S. Sentencing Commission reported that African Americans receive 10% longer sentences than whites through the federal system for the same crimes.”(11 Facts About Racial Discrimination, N/A, N/A) In recent years African Americans have been discriminated against and not treated fairly due to the color of their skin.The issue is these people want equal respect, even though their skin color is different. They are getting some, but not all that people with the white skin tone get. I do believe that civil rights are still an issue today. Movements like #blacklivesmatter and others like it prove that there is still discrimination with African americans even though it ended so many years ago. Also through many studies African Americans and Latinos are not favored in basically everything when it comes to getting longer prison sentences as mentioned before.

Before reading the New Jim Crow Book I always thought that the criminal justice system did make decisions based on race. If you are part of the minority group then you have a smaller chance to win a case. This is based on the idea that is still drilled into some of our minds. Some people still believe that being one race is better than another.

The Freddie Gray case was a big moment in the baltimore City justice system. There was a big rise in empathy and sympathy in the city over the course of the trials. The same crime committed by African Americans and whites have had different sentences. I witnessed a case of rape, the man’s name was Brock Turner and he was white. He was supposed to be in jail for fourteen years but got sentenced to six months and got out before that. Also there was a white girl that accused a Black guy of rape and he got fourteen years. That was just an accusation and he got more time while for Brock there was evidence and he got less, that's what racism looks

This semester we were obliged to peruse a far reaching novel entitled "The Race Beat the Press, The Civil Rights Struggle, and the Awakening of a Nation". The Race Beat is a book composed by two greatly cordial columnists named Gene Roberts and Hank Klibanoff (in which Hank Klibanoff coauthored). The story essentially covers how the press and media influence America during an extremely vital time during the Civil War a great deal to what we could hold a light to what we have realized throughout the span of the semester in the classroom. I accept that the novel, "The Race Beat, The press, the civil rights struggle, and the awakening of a nation", reminds pursuers living in a media-soaked age what it was similar to for columnists to understand the wonderful force the press held to rouse change.

I strongly believe that the verdict was based on race. The African American race is scarred because of the past, it’s sad to say but that’s the way our society is and I wish it would change. There are so many injustices on a daily basis based on race. I believe that the whole Tom Robinson case is very unfair. All the evidence was given and the

There are many cases just like this one and many times these trials are very unfair to the colored people. There are still many racial tensions today but many people don't like to admit it. The system is honestly very corrupt, and no one want to say it flat out like that but at the end of the day people know it is. Also during this time that this happened the system was set up that it didn’t really matter what exactly happened as long someone got arrested. There are many cases where police have been found plotting evidence and there are many law enforcement people who are corrupt in the system. There are people who are being release from prison because evidence has proved them innocent, after serving a huge amount of the life in a cell. I believe that Mumia Abu-Jamal case could potentially be plotted and faked, I do believe there more to it than what we can know and see. I couldn’t compare him to anyone specifically but to everyone that have similar cases like his. Hopefully new evidence comes to light and frees an innocent

My general reaction to this article is: I cannot believe the American court system can be so racially bias toward the people it serves. Before reading about Brock Turner and Corey Batey I thought the court systems were a form of equal justice for all. Now that I have read the article I can tell that court systems are not always fair for all people. I believe that these two case comparisons, the Brock Turner and Corey Batey case, are a prime examples of the unfair treatment that many court systems across the nation take part in. Shocking deaths like the one seen on the national news in Ferguson have awaken more of the American people to the unequal treatment and targeting by law enforcement to minority groups. It is not just in this particular area that these men were arrested that cases like these take place. Unfair treatment happens throughout our nation today. One example of minority ethnicities being mistreated is if you are a Russian living inside the United States you might be more likely to be thought of as a hacker. Also if you are a Mexican and you get in a fight at school you could be more likely

I agree with the stereotyping, however I don’t agree with the religious cultural differences, and sentencing being based upon employment and income when looking at the different offenses. Mr. Catalano offense was much harsher that Mr. Jabari, when statistic show that people of color whether African American, Hispanic or others will receive a harsher sentencing because of their race and not so much the offense. As we know the judge is running for reelection and to appease his constituent, he has too appear to be following the legal statue all while attempting to hiding his bias toward Mr. Jabari. What I learned from your post is that you are assuming that the Judge is Christian for all we know he could be something other than a Christian,

Oh when I think of my long-suffering race, For weary centuries despised, oppressed, Enslaved and lynched, denied a human place In the great life line of the Christian West; And in the Black Land disinherited, Robbed in the ancient country of its birth, My heart grows sick with hate, becomes as lead, For this my race that has no home on earth.

This book put a lot of weight on other issues that could have a factor in the charges versus race. The criminal-justice system process is comprised of many stages, and decisions, at which law enforcement (such as police and judges) must determine how they ought to proceed, arrest or release a suspect; convict or acquit a defendant; impose a harsh or mild sentence on a convict. Some people say the the justice system is fair because not all the justice system is racist. The justice system has three main parts which are legislative,adjudication, and corrections. People say the legislative part is fair so it's impossible for the justice system to be unfair. The law was made for minorities because when they made the constitution and the bill of

Firstly, people are starting to spread incorrect facts online to make things seem racist. For instance, in the article “7 Statistics That Will Change How You View Racism,” the writer chooses to state that “Juries are prone to racist sentencing,” (Simon). However, this is simply untrue. According to the Bureau of Justice statistics, “In 2008, the offending rate for blacks (24.7 offenders per 100,000) was 7 times higher than the rate for whites (3.4 offenders per 100,000),” (Bureau of Justice 11). This shows that it is physically impossible for courts to be “racist,” since statistically more African-Americans are arrested