Racism within the criminal justice system
Write a research paper investigating racism within the criminal justice system. In this paper, you must address the following aspects of your problem:
-What sociological causes and explanations have been linked to this problem? Keep in mind the various theoretical perspectives.
-What social factors (structural, cultural, interactional, political, etc.) contribute to the existence of the problem?
-What do sociologists or other experts believe may be potential solutions to this problem?
Sample Solution
Racism within the criminal justice system
For much of the 20th century, crime and punishment have provided some of the most powerful symbols of the racial divide in America. In early decades, lynchings, chain-gang style penal practices, and prosecutorial and judicial bigotry were common, particularly in the southern criminal justice systems. Throughout the United States, racial minorities were generally tried by all-white juries in all white courtrooms, as was the case, for example, in the 1931-32 Scottboro rape trial. Although overt discrimination has diminished in the criminal justice over recent decades, at the beginning of the 21st century, we continue to grapple with the perceptions of and the reality of unfairness in our justice system.
