Racial Disparities and the Justice System

As those facing arrest look toward the future, people of color must necessarily anticipate darker outcomes. That’s because, as statistics verify, people of color are arrested and prosecuted in higher numbers than their white counterparts, and they receive harsher penalties.

The Numbers

If you’re of the opinion that racism is a thing of the past in the America, perhaps a look at some statistics will change your mind:

• Although Black Americans comprise just 13 percent of the population in this country, they make up nearly 40 percent of the prison population.
• Nearly half of the people serving life sentences are Black.
• Male offenders who are Black wind up with sentences that are an average of 4.7 percent longer than white offenders convicted of similar crimes.
• Black and Latino people, who account for less than 30 percent of the population in this country, account for 57 percent of the prison population.
• Black Americans are sent behind bars nearly five times more often than whites.
• Black juveniles make up 14 percent of the population, but one-third of black children are arrested.
• Over 40 percent of those detained, and over half of whom whose cases wind up in criminal courts.

Bias Starts Long Before Entering a Courtroom

Unfortunately, studies consistently reveal that people of color are more likely to be stopped and searched than white people. In research looking at nearly 100 million stops by law enforcement, evidence of racial bias appeared again and again.

Calls for Change

In response to extensive data documenting racial disparities across the criminal justice system the NAACP has called for changes including:

Providing adequate funding to public defenders serving indigent individuals;

• Committing to doing more to support high school completion for at-risk youth and those behind bars;
• Doing more to develop youth development and employment opportunities;
• Helping former convicts start over by making it easier to get employment, housing, credit, jury duty, and voting rights;
• Requiring more extensive training in racial bias across the system;
• Eliminating mandatory minimum sentences and enhancements;
• Rejecting the death penalty;
• Creating commissions at the state level to recommend legislative or administrative efforts to address the factors that contribute to racial disparities in the justice system.

Advocating for You

Unfortunately, many of the reforms sought by the NAACP may be years away in reality, meaning today’s defendants still face a tough road. That’s why the experienced and passionate Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys at Lobo Law fight every inch of the way for our clients. We are not afraid to point out and attempt to mitigate potential roadblocks based on race or ethnicity and always provide professional and aggressive representation. To discuss your case, schedule a confidential consultation in our Las Vegas office today.

Source:

naacp.org/resources/eliminate-racial-sentencing-disparities