Fairness In The Criminal Justice System Essay

888 Words4 Pages

Poor people are more likely to live in areas with higher crime rates, which could lead to more arrests. Additionally, poor people may not have access to the same resources and opportunities as those who are rich, which could lead to a higher likelihood of engaging in criminal activity. The criminal justice system is often biased against poor people. For example, judges are more likely to apply harsher sentences on people who can’t afford to pay for a good lawyer or who come from poor neighborhoods. Additionally, poor people may be more likely to be stopped and searched by police, which causes a lot more arrests. People of the lower class are more likely to be arrested than those of the higher class. The poor aren’t able to afford lawyers, are …show more content…

Another reason why people of color are treated unfairly by the justice system is that they might not have access to the same resources as whites. According to the report by the Sentencing Project, “people of color are most likely to be poor and have limited access to quality legal representation, which can result in more severe sentences.” (Sentencing Project 2021)This quote shows how poverty can have a direct impact on a person’s ability to navigate the criminal justice system. To conclude, the bias against people who are poor in the criminal justice system is a serious problem that has far-reaching …show more content…

The United States has a criminal justice system that is often biased against people who are poor. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, “the criminal justice system in the United States is biased against the poor from the beginning to the end.”(ACLU, 2010) This shows that it's more difficult for people who are poor to get through the system and get a fair result. In addition, people who are poor are most likely to be arrested because they get misunderstood by judges, cops, and lawyers. The Brennan Center for Justice stated “Poverty is a significant predictor of whether someone will be imprisoned” (BCJ, 2016) This proved that poverty can have a direct impact on one’s ability to guide through the justice system. They highlight the fact that people who aren’t wealthy will be addressed by the court and will be blamed. In conclusion, prejudice against people of color that are poor is a very serious issue and causes many deaths and