...The criminal justice system uses a lot of terminology that can be hard to understand, two words commonly used are disparity and discrimination. In this essay I will define and give current examples of the terminology. I will also explain why knowing the difference between the two is important in the criminal justice system. Disparity and discrimination are similar terms. You might be asking yourself what is disparity? Disparity can be defined as a lack of similarity or equality. Diversity can be defined as the condition of having or being composed of differing elements. One current and highly controversial form of discrimination that we are facing worldwide is same sex marriages. No matter if you are for it or against it you have seen or been affected in some way by the topic. By not allowing same sex marriages to be validated we are discriminating against the gay and lesbian community. There are still many forms of discrimination that take place in today’s society; unfortunately a lot of discrimination is racially based. We also see a lot of gender based discrimination; typically men are still paid more than women for the exact same job. America is the most racially diverse demographic nation in the world. Many people working the criminal justice systems are aware of the racial disparity and would like to counteract it. Racial disparity in the criminal justice system exists when the proportion of the racial or ethnic group within control of the system is greater than the...
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...Cultural Diversity in Criminal Justice Brent Weaver Cultural Diversity in Criminal Justice, CJA/423 Torria Richardson 5-30-11 Cultural Diversity in Criminal Justice Society has shown racial diversity among communities. Racial disparity can be found in the criminal justice system. A system designed to be fair and equal to individuals is not existent. Racial diversity can be found at the time of arrest to the time of sentencing. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the diversity in sentencing. Case studies will be discussed throughout this paper. Leaders of criminal justice are not exempt of racial diversity. Racial diversity has changed over the years, but racial diversity remains strong in sentencing minorities. Diversity is not biased of offenses. Racial diversity can be seen in the smallest of charges, such as a traffic stop to the most serious sentence of the death penalty. Most of the sentences are because profiling an individual of minority. African Americans are likely to be the targeted racial group. Hispanic individuals are likely to be another racial group profiled for harsher sentencing. Racial disparity in the criminal justice system should always be considered a violation of ideas of the forefather’s of this nation as equal treatment under the laws of the United States Constitution. Many reasons for racial disparity can be identified in the sentencing process. The sentencing process is a difficult process, and adding racial bias may create a...
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...Court Issues Analysis January 30, 2012 CJUS/394 Troy Hakonsan Court Issues Analysis The courts system is defined as an impartial judiciary body. The courts purpose is to assure that offenders of the law receive the fairness of treatment in relations to criminal procedures, polices, trials, and sentencing. The ideal court system would consist of one that has overall operations that are impartial on all levels of criminal proceedings. This begins with the arresting officer he or she should be fair in booking, writing reports and testifying in court no matter how wrong the offender may or may not be. An offender that chooses a trial by judge places their fates in the hands of the judge. The judge must be impartial no matter the nature of the crime as well. Only in a ideal world this could exist. The financial strain that would be placed on the criminal justice system would be the contributing factor that would push the courts systems back to current roles. There would need to more enforce of the law and support staff for each and every offender to receive true impartiality in criminal proceedings. Immigration and cultural diversity among the 1900’s and next century are the nation’s most significant trends. The United States of America in 1900 showed that 32 million were the estimated home speakers of non-English languages. This trend will be a continuous growth. With this growth there will be a need for a more diverse court system. Diversity is continuous battle for...
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...Court Issues Analysis Luria Davis CJA 394 May 30, 2011 Professor Hollis Severns The Hon. Mme. Justice Desiree Bernard, O.R., C.C.H stated that the organizers of this 14th Commonwealth Law Conference on the choice of the theme “Developing Law and Justice” and the various streams which include human rights and corruption within the Courts, issues which are inter-related and important in the administration of justice (The Hon. Mme. Justice Bernard, D., O.R, C.C.H, 1992). This impact the overall operations of the court system by making sure that whoever is on board of a particular case the judge, lawyers, and the officer must treat the individual fairly know matter how wrong the suspect is. That means their can be know bias act against the criminal. This is apart of the International Human Rights treaties. This may cause more finances to be implement and very time consuming, because each suspected human being that is sentenced to a court hearing is entitled a full equality to a impartial and public hearing. The individual is also entitled to an independent tribunal within the fortitude of his or her rights and obligation of a criminal charged against the suspected. The interrelated ones of immigrating and cultural diversity among the 1900’s and next century are the nation’s most significant trends. 12.6 percent of our nation’s population was estimated in the 1900’s. The estimation showed that 32 million were the estimated home speakers of non-English languages. The National...
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...Central Ohio Technical College Institute for Public Safety Law Enforcement Technology Autumn Semester, 2013 August 21 through December 11, 2013 Class Syllabus Course Title: Introduction to Criminal Justice Course Number: LET-100 Instructor: Bob Cromwell, MS BBA C: (740)258-0800 Office hours by appointment only. email: rcromwel@cotc.edu Required Materials: Textbook(s): Frank Schmalleger. (2014) Criminal justice: a brief introduction (10th edition). NJ: Pearson Education. ISBN: 978-0-13-300979-8 Packets: Not required Supplies: Any materials students may need to record information in face to face classroom setting AND access to internet for research projects. Additional Materials: None. Closed Reserve: None. ITS Resources: http://www.cotc.edu/faculty-and-staff/it-support/Pages/index.aspx Student Services: http://www.cotc.edu/student-life/Pages/default.aspx Library: http://www.cotc.edu/libraries/Pages/default.aspx College-Wide Policies: 1. Assessment -- As part of COTC’s campus-wide assessment initiatives (quality assurance program), samples of student performance such as test results, projects, papers, etc. may be used. The data gathered will not identify individual students and are not related to the student’s grade for the course, but will be used to improve student learning at COTC. 2. Disability -- Any student who...
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...Describe the American experience with crime during the last half century. What noteworthy criminal incidents or activities occurred during that time, and what social and economic conditions might have produced them? a. The American experience with crime during the last half century has been the main reason for the way our courts, law enforcement, and the criminal justice system operates the way that it does today. There have been many crime waves and other events that have played a key role in shaping the system as it is today. Some of these things include: the huge spike in organized crime activity during the prohibition years and its evolution into gangs and the laws concerning them today, the increase in reported crimes and enforced laws through the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s as well as the change/increase in the types and availability of illegal drugs today. For example: prohibition effectively created a black market for alcohol, a sub cultural of illegal gambling, and other organized crime like protection rackets, to name a few. That paved the way for gangs and the way we handle them today. 2. What is the theme of this book? According to that theme, what are the differences between the individual-rights perspective and the public-order perspective? a. The theme of this book is individual-rights verses public-order, specifically; the rights guaranteed by the constitution to criminal suspects and law abiding citizens need to be upheld and defended. On the public-order side...
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...Cultural Considerations Cultural diversity is normal in society today. People come from different races, cultures, and backgrounds. People have to learn the importance of respecting the culture of others. Everyone can learn from others. Superiority does not exist because of an individual’s culture. Some people from different cultural backgrounds believe that he or she is better than others but this is an untruth. Cultural concerns can have a negative influence on justice and security administration. Stereotyping because of an individual’s culture is a problem in society. Good people exist in every race and so do not so good people. One person of a specific culture making a mistake does not mean that the entire culture of people will make the same mistake. People of different cultures do not always receive fair treat in the justice system. An example of this would be an African American male who is serving 20 years in prison because he was falsely indentified during a lineup. People have to be willing to acknowledge that he or she is not sure that the individuals in the lineup are the guilty party. Some people like to say that African Americans look alike. This is not true. Some people may have similar features but this does not mean that he or she looks alike. African Americans are often not hired for certain positions for fear that he or she will not be honest. This type of behavior and thinking should not occur in the criminal justice system. Society has to learn to...
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...THE STRUCTURE OF THE AMERICAN JUDICIARY I. Intro --Court organization CAN become the focus of political battles. --e.g. There are 12 circuit courts (federal courts of appeals). The 9th circuit is the largest as it includes 9 states and two territories. It stretches from Alaska to Arizona and from Montana to Hawaii and then to Guam. -- 28 full time judges and several more retired judges who help out part time. --Hears over 5000 cases a year. -In 1990 the U.S. Senate considered a bill to split the 9th circuit into 2 circuits. California, Arizona and Nevada would make up one circuit while the other states and territories would make up a second circuit. -to some this division made sense since the circuit was considered too large to handle business efficiently. However, this seemingly routine matter of administration met intense opposition. --The bill was sponsored by Senators from the northwestern states and was opposed by senators from California. Interest groups were also involved: The Sierra Club and other environmental groups argued fiercely against the proposal. --Why would the division of a judicial circuit into two parts stir up such political controversy? -->The 9th Circuit had a majority of judges from California which gave broad interpretations to environmental protection laws. --People from the Northwest saw these decisions as damaging to their timber industries. --So splitting the circuit would prevent California judges from ruling on environmental...
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...coexisting with state courts are numerous federal district and appellate courts that function independently. It may seem overwhelming and baffling to consider what legal matter may be decided in which forum. But for the most part, federal and state courts have their own separate purpose and part in applying the laws before it and administering justice to all. Federal Judiciary The...
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...Ohio State University law professor and civil rights activist Michelle Alexander, author of "The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness," reports there are more African American men in prison and jail, or on probation and parole, than were slaves before the start of the Civil War. Statistics reported in 2006, by the U.S .Department of Justice, Bureau of Statistics support this claim, which show that Blacks made up 41 percent of the nation’s 2 million prison and jail inmates, while Non-Hispanic whites made up 37 percent and Hispanics made up 19 percent. The disproportionate ratio of blacks to whites who are incarcerated is especially great in Iowa, Vermont, New Jersey, Connecticut, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota – greater than 10-to-1 (USJB, 2006). Why this structural inequality towards African Americans is happening, why it matters, and suggestions to rectify this, are issues that are discussed in this paper. Why is this happening? Since 1970, the U.S. has experienced a large and rapid increase in the rate at which people, regardless of race, are housed in federal and state correctional facilities (Snyder, 2011). This rapid growth in the prison population has been attributed in a large part to the rate at which individuals are incarcerated for drug offenses, especially minorities (Snyder, 2011). Between1995 and 2003, the number of people in state and federal prisons incarcerated for drug offenses increased by 21 percent, from 280,182 to 337...
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...Culture Diversity in Criminal Justice Elaine Ramon CJA/344 November 15, 2011 Sherry Caperton Culture Diversity in Criminal Justice Culture diversity is one of the many issues facing the criminal justice department, including police departments. Culture diversity is important to get over because of the cultural and religious differences it brings. Socializing and studying cultural diversity brings about a better understanding. The more we understand other cultures and religions, the more tolerant we become. Throughout history in law enforcement all policemen were white, and especially no police women. Before the 1960s police departments were guilty of employment discrimination by not hiring minorities and women. Police departments also required applicants to be a certain height to keep minorities from applying and didn’t hire nonwhites (cliffnotes.com, 2011). One of the first African Americans to be hired in the United States as police officer was in Jackson Tennessee in 1960. When James Cherry was hired as a police he was sure he would not be welcomed by the white community, but instead he was rejected by the black community. Although James Cherry was a police officer he still had to follow the segregation rules (Morris, 2003). The first woman police officer was discovered to be in Chicago. According to Feminist Majority Foundation women were often hired to protect and supervise other women and juveniles. In 1893 Mary Owens was the first woman to be hired by the Chicago...
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...on the example of Australia. Australian law was founded, based on the British common law, imposing on the already existing custom of indigenous aboriginals. Additionally with the rise of globalisation, diversities of cultures and ethnic groups immigrated to Australia, leading the country to multiculturalism. In compliance to human rights and International law, Australia is...
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...ABSTRACT Over the years racial profiling has become a significant topic especially among law enforcement agencies across the United States. Many cities and states have made a conscious effort to study racial profiling and ascertain how race and ethnicity plays a significant role in stopping vehicles by law enforcement in their jurisdictions (Cleary, 2000). This literature review will examine the argument of whether racial profiling is practiced significantly by police agencies nationwide, and whether such practices are beneficial or not? The determination of whether race is a significant factor in the likelihood of being stopped by law enforcement is the purpose of this research. Are African Americans Targeted by Police Because of Their Race? A Review of the Literature Examining whether or not African Americans are targeted by police because of their race is an effective topic because African Americans experience it every day and the experience is not a new concept. The argument over racial profiling is based on two questions. Does racial profiling actually occur and if so, is it being used as a legitimate tool by law enforcement? The extent of racial profiling by the public is unknown; however, research reveals that “both race and personal experience with racial profiling are strong predictors in the attitudes toward profiling and that, among blacks, social class affects views of the prevalence and acceptability of the practice” (Weitzer and Tuch, 2002) thus furthering...
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...Week One Read Me First INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE Introduction This course introduces the student to concepts of research in criminal justice. In this section, we explore the basics of what research is and what it can do in the criminal justice system. This week, the student is exposed to a variety of new terminology relating to research and meet the following objectives. • Explore the scientific approach to criminal justice research. • Distinguish between qualitative and quantitative research. • Differentiate between pure and applied research. • Specify the various functions of the research process. • Summarize the meaning of research ethics and examine the codes of ethics in criminal justice research. • Assess the nature and diversity of ethical dilemmas in criminological research. • Explore the meaning of statistics and the basic ideas behind any statistical study. This Week in Relation to the Course CJA/334 addresses various questions and problems of various components of the criminal justice system. As with other disciplines, criminal justice is sometimes difficult to define, as it involves issues that involve cross-discipline issues from psychology and public administration to sociology and law. Criminal justice research addresses all aspects from police, courts, corrections, criminal procedures, juveniles, and a host of other mundane problems faced by stakeholders. Heffner (2004) states that research...
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...Criminal Justice Trends Evaluation Anthony Tomlin CJA/394 May 1, 2014 Professor Ken Jones Criminal Justice Trends Evaluation The American criminal justice system serves as a means for retribution and rehabilitation for criminals. In the early inception of the criminal justice system juries held the sentencing powers – convicting most criminals to death. Over the years sentencing powers shifted to judges. In this paper we will discuss the problems and changes in the criminal justice processes. The criminal justice system is not perfect but over the years there has been an continued improvement in the process. There are issues with the system that are being addressed such as prison overcrowding, three strikes rule, the disparity in sentencing for certain drug convictions, and the sentencing of minority groups. There are several future trends, such as training and educating law enforcement personnel, rehabilitating criminals, and law enforcement being proactive versus reactive. There are changes in the criminal justice system occurring and changes being lobbied by politicians. The future of criminal justice is constantly evolving with time but the full extent of how the changes will affect the system is not fully known. Some suggest laws of the past have been left behind by society and that change to the criminal justice system requires an overhaul to laws. Understand some of the crimes individuals commit warrant the sentencing received because...
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