Cultural Diversity In Criminal Justice
Cultural Diversity in Criminal Justice Paper
Joseph Merritt
CJA344
July 10,2011
Melba Ferlow- Herrington
Cultural Diversity in Criminal Justice Paper
This paper will primarily focus on racial disparity in sentencing. While studying the different problems associated with racial disparity we will also look at why racial disparity exsist within sentencing. In society today there are a diversity of citizens, offenders, and leaders within the court system. However, race still plays a big role in the criminal justice system especially during the sentencing portion of a trial or hearing. Although racial dynamics may have changed over time, race still exerts an undeniable presence in the sentencing process. “ This ranges from desperate traffic …show more content…
Racial discrimination has been a big part of this country for a long time. And just because things have started to change does not mean that perception of the people have changed. The sad thing is people who are in a position to initiate a sentence may still believe this way today. The true analogy is the world may change but not all people want to change. Many blacks and Spanish descendants who do not work regular jobs may have this type of information used against them quite often at no fault of their own , but, as some folks say “ Never judge a book by its cover.”
According to (Burnham,Sen, 2005) “ The compact for racial justice is a proactive agenda for fairness and unity in our communities, politics, the economy, and the law. It offers a concrete strategy and purpose to reverse racial disparities and move our societies toward full equity, cultural diversity, inclusion, and dignity for all …show more content…
When a prosecutor use their discretion to oppose a black juror the burden of proving they discriminated against the black juror is left up to the defendant to prove. Since black potential jurors cannot be excluded from the jury because of their race, they can be dismissed because of their views of the death penalty.
Racial disparity in sentencing is caused by racist jurors. Their was a case where the defendant was a black man by the name of William Hance. In his case their was only one black woman juror selected for his case. The woman was against the death penalty however, when the head juror read the decision he left out the black juror vote. Because the woman juror was afraid to say anything the defendant was executed before she spoke out about it.
Racial disparity does exist during sentencing of defendants.” It is said that nationwide 90% of those who are convicted for crack cocaine violations are black” (Kennedy,1996).
By punishing everybody the same way the racial disparity may subside . our society thrives on the sterotype that this should also be taken into consideration when discussing racial disparity. Society have made a prison or jail stay almost like an” obligatory stage in the life of a young black men”
Joseph Merritt
CJA344
July 10,2011
Melba Ferlow- Herrington
Cultural Diversity in Criminal Justice Paper
This paper will primarily focus on racial disparity in sentencing. While studying the different problems associated with racial disparity we will also look at why racial disparity exsist within sentencing. In society today there are a diversity of citizens, offenders, and leaders within the court system. However, race still plays a big role in the criminal justice system especially during the sentencing portion of a trial or hearing. Although racial dynamics may have changed over time, race still exerts an undeniable presence in the sentencing process. “ This ranges from desperate traffic …show more content…
Racial discrimination has been a big part of this country for a long time. And just because things have started to change does not mean that perception of the people have changed. The sad thing is people who are in a position to initiate a sentence may still believe this way today. The true analogy is the world may change but not all people want to change. Many blacks and Spanish descendants who do not work regular jobs may have this type of information used against them quite often at no fault of their own , but, as some folks say “ Never judge a book by its cover.”
According to (Burnham,Sen, 2005) “ The compact for racial justice is a proactive agenda for fairness and unity in our communities, politics, the economy, and the law. It offers a concrete strategy and purpose to reverse racial disparities and move our societies toward full equity, cultural diversity, inclusion, and dignity for all …show more content…
When a prosecutor use their discretion to oppose a black juror the burden of proving they discriminated against the black juror is left up to the defendant to prove. Since black potential jurors cannot be excluded from the jury because of their race, they can be dismissed because of their views of the death penalty.
Racial disparity in sentencing is caused by racist jurors. Their was a case where the defendant was a black man by the name of William Hance. In his case their was only one black woman juror selected for his case. The woman was against the death penalty however, when the head juror read the decision he left out the black juror vote. Because the woman juror was afraid to say anything the defendant was executed before she spoke out about it.
Racial disparity does exist during sentencing of defendants.” It is said that nationwide 90% of those who are convicted for crack cocaine violations are black” (Kennedy,1996).
By punishing everybody the same way the racial disparity may subside . our society thrives on the sterotype that this should also be taken into consideration when discussing racial disparity. Society have made a prison or jail stay almost like an” obligatory stage in the life of a young black men”