In Walter Dean Myers' novel Monster, the main character’s defense attorney, Kathy O’Brien states that, “Half of those jurors, no matter what they said when we questioned them when we picked the jury, believed you were guilty the moment they laid eyes on you. You’re young, you’re Black, and you’re on trial. What else do they need to know?” (78-79), implying that within the American justice system those involved in the process have an inherent and almost innate sense of racial bias that clouds their judgment when entering the courtroom. In the United States it is said that you are innocent until proven guilty, however, the actual validity of that statement has come into question more often than not, particularly in recent months, despite being
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For many judges and jurors, if one were to ask them if they were racist or allowed racial bias to affect their decision in the courtroom, 99% would say no. The main cause of this disparity of treatment in the judicial system is that stereotypes and racial profiles are so deeply embedded in our subconscious; it is difficult to even realize that it is affecting one’s judgment. These stereotypes affect not only adults incarcerated but also, and maybe more so, …show more content…
The general definition of stereotype is culturally shared beliefs about the behavior of particular groups. The overall stereotype of adolescents is an image of raging hormones and reckless behavior caused by a desire to rebel. When that perception is combined with the sweeping generalizations that Blacks are associated with, such as; “hostility, aggressiveness, violence, and danger,” it drives officers and law enforcement officials to make assumptions about the accused juveniles to be irresponsible, remorseless, and guilty. Despite the entire basis of the juvenile justice system as grounded in the idea that adolescents differ from adults in maturity, judgment, and vulnerability and should therefore be held to different standards of accountability; youth minorities are “6.2 times more likely to wind up in adult court,” according to the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice. The combination of race, age, and social class standing often leads to a much harsher treatment of minority youth in the court
For many judges and jurors, if one were to ask them if they were racist or allowed racial bias to affect their decision in the courtroom, 99% would say no. The main cause of this disparity of treatment in the judicial system is that stereotypes and racial profiles are so deeply embedded in our subconscious; it is difficult to even realize that it is affecting one’s judgment. These stereotypes affect not only adults incarcerated but also, and maybe more so, …show more content…
The general definition of stereotype is culturally shared beliefs about the behavior of particular groups. The overall stereotype of adolescents is an image of raging hormones and reckless behavior caused by a desire to rebel. When that perception is combined with the sweeping generalizations that Blacks are associated with, such as; “hostility, aggressiveness, violence, and danger,” it drives officers and law enforcement officials to make assumptions about the accused juveniles to be irresponsible, remorseless, and guilty. Despite the entire basis of the juvenile justice system as grounded in the idea that adolescents differ from adults in maturity, judgment, and vulnerability and should therefore be held to different standards of accountability; youth minorities are “6.2 times more likely to wind up in adult court,” according to the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice. The combination of race, age, and social class standing often leads to a much harsher treatment of minority youth in the court