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Racial disparity in the criminal justice
Racial discrimination in the police force
Racial disparities in criminal justice system
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Racism and racial discrimination has been a major issue in the U.S. since the colonial periods, where people have been treated differently only based upon their race. Although the civil rights movement opposed racial discrimination, the act of stereotyping individuals still continues till this day. Racial profiling by law enforcement is commonly defined as a practice that targets people for suspicion of crime based on their race, religion or national origin. A recent case, involving a young black man named Michael Brown is an example of how a police officer may act differently when facing an African American. “Ferguson Grand Jury Evidence Reveals Mistakes, Holes In Investigation” is an article written by Jason Cherkis’s and published on November
Law enforcement There have been instances of injustice demonstrated by law enforcement officials pertaining to black individuals. A disproportionate amount of black people are being subject to brutality and incarceration due to racial profiling. More black individuals in prison means an increase in the chance of the decision of the death sentence for black individuals, depending on what is being accused of them. This can be justified based on the belief that blacks are simply committing more crime, but the truth of the matter is, black people are often targeted based on racism by officers and this is why they represent such a large proportion of people in correctional facilities. To illustrate, following a wrongful vehicle search without consent
The Case of Michael Brown On August 9, 2014, an eighteen year-old, Michael Brown was shot by Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri. The shooting caused protests and has drawn the world’s attention because Michael Brown is an unarmed, black man while Darren Wilson is a white police officer. Cases like police officers shot citizens happened before, but this case has drew attention to the world because the officer is white and the victim is a black man.
Introduction Michael Brown was an 18 year old African American man who was a suspect in a strong- arm robbery in Ferguson, Missouri. He was shot and killed on August 9th, 2014, by a man named Darren Wilson, a police officer with the local Ferguson, Missouri Police Department. The incident took place just a few miles from a convenience warehouse, where Darren had received a call pertaining to the actions of Michael Brown. Brown, the suspect, was as well accompanied by his friend Dorian Johnson at the time of the fatal incident who was 22 years old.
It 's been about a year and a half since 18 year old Michael Brown was shot by Officer Darren Wilson. This ordeal still holds a lot of controversy. I, myself believe that Wilson 's action were unjustifiable and way worse than just unfair. Regardless of whether or not Michael had stolen something, shooting to kill was unnessecary. It was also unacceptabe and disrespectful for his body to be taken away hours later and in a cop car.
From early studies of police departments and law enforcement agencies, their culture is described as authoritarian, cynical, distrustful, elitist, homogeneous, macho, misogynist, monolithic, pessimistic, suspicious, insular, socially isolated and highly resistant to change. Relationships between police officers and the communities they are sworn to protect and serve is often times tense and difficult to maneuver. Police departments can implement an effective mechanism for change as "fish rot from the head first. "
Wilson was violent toward Brown and shot Brown several times even though Brown had already surrendered and put up his hands in the air. People who are on Brown’s side claim that a white police officer abused his power, and a sign of race discrimination among police officers. On the day of shooting, Michael Brown and Dorian Johnson went to Ferguson Market and Liquor Store where it was reported for robbery. According to Johnson 's attorney, Freeman Bosley, Michael was involved in shoplifting(CNN). The police released the video of Brown robbing and pushing a clerk of the store from the convenience store 's security camera.
Racial profiling by law enforcement is an overwhelmingly useless and prevalent expression of hate and ignorance to this day. Internationally, a wide variation of races are unrightfully discriminated against by the enforcements who are supposedly there to protect them. Jim Crow policing is an issue that undoubtedly continues, no matter the amount of riots or unjustly arrested/ murdered civilians. Cases like Trayvon Martin, and Mike Brown, as well as Bob Herbert 's article Jim Crow Policing published in the New York Times, February 2nd 2010, explain first hand accounts and statistics to give examples of the fact that racial profiling from the police force consistently takes place.
For instance, ever since the emancipation of slaves, white Americans have treated African Americans and other minorities as inferior. Also, many African American traditions and beliefs have been ridiculed and interpreted as negative and cruel principles. The stereotype of a criminal has been linked to dark skin color which has been causing police officers to be more violent with African Americans. Many police brutality cases have been underway since the Civil Rights Era in the United States. The tragedies are affecting millions of lives in every community nationwide.
Racial Profiling The South. The origins of the Jim Crow laws and the idea of separate but equal. These laws stayed intact until 1964 when the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed. Over half a century has passed yet in Southern States there is still has a discriminatory nature when someone of color succeed.
However, research demonstrates that often times men of color are treated harshly which leads to negative perceptions of police officers. Police brutality is a crime that is has been surfacing in the news recently. Some people are just starting to realize that these injustices against the black community really occur, while others are well aware. The recent shootings, different run-ins with officers being filmed while doing such harmful actions against African American men is an example of police brutality and, that reminds us that as a society work needs to be done to improve police and community relations. A black male cannot even walk down the street on a cold night because he might be a suspect from something or he may be of danger to the people around.
The point made by Colson Whitehead is still important in our lives. A great example is police brutality. Police brutality is unlawful actions committed by police like beatings, abuse and even unlawful killings. These killings are usually unjust and can be racially motivated. Studies show that police are being 3.5 times as likely to kill a black person than a white person.
One of the greatest challenges law enforcement are facing is providing effective policing for minority communities. Some factors that prevent minorities from gaining access to justice or being taken advantage of certain criminal justice services are language barriers, racial stereotyping, and cultural differences. Since the 30 's and 40 's, and even during the 60 's, civil rights activists damaged the police-minority relations in the United States, believing that police only interest are protecting white communities. A big explanation of why there 's a poor police-minority relations in the United States is racism on the part of the individual officers. Many minorities in the United States have continued to complain about being treated more harshly than whites and the Department of Justice believes that racial profiling and police discrimination will continue to be a big problem.
Police brutality remains a common yet controversial topic around the world. Police brutality is “the use of excessive and/or unnecessary force by police when dealing with civilians” (thelawdictionary.org). It’s a topic that segregates communities and makes each other their enemy. Specifically, a white officer has been the enemy of the black community. Unfortunately, the tension between police and blacks grew over the past few decades.
Police racism is a very big problem in America. The killings of Eric Garner, Michael Brown, and Walter Scott are other examples of police racism and brutality as well. Reasons behind police racism and brutality are simple. People still have a certain way that they think about people of color.
