The Culture Of The Courtroom: Film Analysis

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When defining sociology, it becomes apparent that the social science is about observation. In fact, “sociology is concerned with problems of society, [and] to understand what sociology is about, one has to look at oneself from a distance” (Elias 1978:13). Thus, studying society in any context is best done when immersed in that culture. Specifically, the sociology of law focuses on the law in society; and therefore, observation of the law in use is likewise the best way to understand the culture and context within which law is used. So, it is important to experience the culture of the courtroom firsthand to fully understand the dynamics of the courtroom, as the media is never an accurate representation. Even though many people believe …show more content…
Thus, it is evident that stereotypes are reinforced in the courts. Unfortunately, at least from what was observed during the very minimal period of eight hours, the common media-portrayed stereotypes have factual consequences. All of the people who were in custody and had to be escorted out by police officers were male, and only one of the men was not part of a minority. In regards to the first comment, according to Brym and Lie 2015, more than 80 percent of adults accused of crime are male. This fact was demonstrated from what was observed in the court, as there were no female accused at that time. The stereotype that comes in to play, however, is the issue that race dictates who is more likely to commit a crime. And while the issue of racial-profiling is typically a more American one, it does not escape Canadian society. In fact, Brym and Lie (2015) maintain that the research proves the claim is credible. They even provide an example that verifies that well-educated white and Asian individuals are less frequently stopped by police compared to other racialized minorities. Therefore, this demonstrates that it is not accurate to say that minorities commit more offences, rather that they are simply more suspected of committing crimes. It is important to note this difference because if a group, or groups, of minorities are more frequently suspected of committing a certain crime, the police’s time is more focused on investigating those minorities. If minorities are more focused on, the police will make more charges against the people who are a part of minorities because less time is focused on non-minority individuals. It is almost like saying white individuals are less on the police radar. In media, racial-profiling and criminal stereotypes are ever-present and continue to grow even with combatant evidence that supports

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