Overrepresentation of Minorities in the Criminal Justice System Today's criminal justice system is faced with many issues among the racial and ethnic lines. In 2001, the National Urban League conducted a survey that asked 800 African Americans if they felt that the criminal justice system was fair or if they felt the system was biased towards African Americans. 74 percent of them felt that the system was biased while 15 percent said it was fair(Delone, Spohn, & Walker, 2011, p.2). In 2007, a group of American Muslims was surveyed, and 19 percent of them felt discriminated against while 15 percent felt they were viewed as a terrorist (Delone et al., 2011, p. 3). In the federal and state detention facilities today there is an overrepresentation
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In the court system, the minorities are at a disadvantage because of their race and the fact that they are more likely to be poor. In 2009, 6 out 10 people in the prison system were of a racial or ethnic minority (Delone et al., 2011, p. 415). The obstacles make it harder for the defendant to find a competent lawyer, thus making the process harder for them. The 2003 report of the Mississippi defense system states that justice is only granted for those who could afford it (Delone et al., 2011, p. 202). Even though the growth of public defenders has been on the rise, many still lack the resources, training, and time to prepare for the courses. It has also been seen that racial minorities are less likely to receive as good of a deal as a person of white race when plea bargaining. The use of plea-bargaining is based on the discretion of the prosecution. Another disadvantage that minorities face is when it comes to their parole. The probation population of African Americans has decreased from 45 percent in 1995 to 38 percent in 2008 (Delone et al., 2011, p. 417). In the probation population, African Americans are overrepresented by 29 percent while whites are underrepresented by 56 percent (Delone et al., 2011, p. 419). Borderline cases are another disadvantage the minorities face. These cases are where the judge could decide on a long probation sentence or a short prison term. Whites are more likely to be granted parole sentences while African Americans are more likely to be given a prison
In the court system, the minorities are at a disadvantage because of their race and the fact that they are more likely to be poor. In 2009, 6 out 10 people in the prison system were of a racial or ethnic minority (Delone et al., 2011, p. 415). The obstacles make it harder for the defendant to find a competent lawyer, thus making the process harder for them. The 2003 report of the Mississippi defense system states that justice is only granted for those who could afford it (Delone et al., 2011, p. 202). Even though the growth of public defenders has been on the rise, many still lack the resources, training, and time to prepare for the courses. It has also been seen that racial minorities are less likely to receive as good of a deal as a person of white race when plea bargaining. The use of plea-bargaining is based on the discretion of the prosecution. Another disadvantage that minorities face is when it comes to their parole. The probation population of African Americans has decreased from 45 percent in 1995 to 38 percent in 2008 (Delone et al., 2011, p. 417). In the probation population, African Americans are overrepresented by 29 percent while whites are underrepresented by 56 percent (Delone et al., 2011, p. 419). Borderline cases are another disadvantage the minorities face. These cases are where the judge could decide on a long probation sentence or a short prison term. Whites are more likely to be granted parole sentences while African Americans are more likely to be given a prison