The injustice in the United States criminal justice system has, historically and contemporarily, attracted the attention of sociologists and researchers alike. At face value, the criminal justice system serves to maintain order amongst the chaos of criminal cases and deliver justice for those convicted. However, there appears to be a degree of irony in labeling the criminal justice system as being “unjust”, assuming that the system truly delivers justice. Yet this is supported by recent polls stating that only roughly 25% of the American population has a significant level of confidence in our system (Matsueda & Drakulich 2010). Further studies tell us that subgroups, such as minorities, have even stronger negative viewpoints toward the criminal
…show more content…
The criminal justice system is designed around mandates that aim to eliminate any biases that may sway a judge’s ruling on a sentence one way or another. Studies find, however, that people of color and of low socioeconomic status were more likely to receive harsher sentences than white people or people of high socioeconomic status (Thornbery 1973). This illustrates a trend that surely could cultivate feelings of injustice. The cause of these racial and socioeconomic biases could be due to the engrained practices and trends followed through the years, as exemplified in Thornberry’s study. Years later since this publication, these perceptions are still shared and spread, especially between the convicted, as seen with a formal federal inmate named J.E. Dregon. Dregon is a white, 39-year old industrial painter that was arrested and sent to federal prison for 122 months for cocaine trafficking after his car was illegally searched. Since he was thirteen years old, Dregon has been in and out of the courts and jails, ultimately leading up to his most serious offense of drug trafficking, and through these experiences, Dregon has collected a number of stories alongside his own. In an audio-recorded interview, he elaborates on some of the racial and socioeconomic discrimination he experienced and …show more content…
Common examples include police officers abusing the law while they are supposed to ensure that others are upholding it, and lawyers taking advantage of a client because there is no other option for said client. Abuse of power is not uncommon, as many police officers maintain the persona of being better than the criminals they arrest, therefore demeaning them, even before they are even convicted. *Insert article about abuse of power* *Small intro to Cesar, 33 year old
The criminal justice system is designed around mandates that aim to eliminate any biases that may sway a judge’s ruling on a sentence one way or another. Studies find, however, that people of color and of low socioeconomic status were more likely to receive harsher sentences than white people or people of high socioeconomic status (Thornbery 1973). This illustrates a trend that surely could cultivate feelings of injustice. The cause of these racial and socioeconomic biases could be due to the engrained practices and trends followed through the years, as exemplified in Thornberry’s study. Years later since this publication, these perceptions are still shared and spread, especially between the convicted, as seen with a formal federal inmate named J.E. Dregon. Dregon is a white, 39-year old industrial painter that was arrested and sent to federal prison for 122 months for cocaine trafficking after his car was illegally searched. Since he was thirteen years old, Dregon has been in and out of the courts and jails, ultimately leading up to his most serious offense of drug trafficking, and through these experiences, Dregon has collected a number of stories alongside his own. In an audio-recorded interview, he elaborates on some of the racial and socioeconomic discrimination he experienced and …show more content…
Common examples include police officers abusing the law while they are supposed to ensure that others are upholding it, and lawyers taking advantage of a client because there is no other option for said client. Abuse of power is not uncommon, as many police officers maintain the persona of being better than the criminals they arrest, therefore demeaning them, even before they are even convicted. *Insert article about abuse of power* *Small intro to Cesar, 33 year old