This essay discusses how the criminal justice system is an important part of the government, allowing for the prosecution, imprisonment, and rehabilitation of criminals. Apart from the court system and police, the criminal justice system has other components like criminal justice agencies that provide additional information for researchers to form studies and articles to help improve the criminal justice system as a whole. This Criminal Justice Essay will help students looking to understand what the system is and what components make up the system. By exploring the core of the criminal justice system, one can understand law and how the government carries out enforcement of the law within the country.
Americans were the first to implement a true prison system and continue to provide a prison system that changes every couple of decades. These changes can as a result to internal government changes like those brought on by the Civil Rights Movement or due to privatization efforts. The prison system became the main means of rehabilitation of criminals in the United States. The court system and police officers aimed to curb criminal activity via arresting and imprisoning criminals.
This has led to voices of dissent over American law enforcement. The American criminal justice system has transformed and become one that has met many criticisms. One such criticism is the disproportionate incarceration of black Americans versus white Americans. This has become a hot-button topic and has led for cries to reform the criminal justice system. Along with racial profiling are harsher sentences that have led to continued problems among black Americans in gaining employment and avoiding additional arrests.
Racial Profiling
Racial profiling has led to many problems for the American criminal justice system. Many researchers and journalists have noted the disproportionate arrests and harsh treatments of black and Latino Americans compared to their white counterparts. One article noted how cases like Garner’s help fan the flames of police brutality and racial profiling.
In Garner’s case, for example, police targeted him for the petty crime of selling loose cigarettes — the types of crimes black people are targeted for at higher rates — and then attempted to arrest him with a chokehold, banned by the department. Whatever else we have learned from the recent tragedies of police violence, it is clear that we need comprehensive federal, state and local policies that outlaw racial profiling and rein in police excessive force (Natarajan, 2014).
It seems cases like Garner’s have increased and provided a harsh light on racial profiling and the subsequent police brutality that ensues. Thanks to the growing evidence of the problems brought on by racial profiling, more and more people have asked the American government to create reform in the criminal justice department, beginning with police officers and their treatment of specific populations.
One such areas where Americans want reform is the stop-and-frisk program. “The NYPD’s controversial stop-and-frisk program shows similar evidence of racial profiling, with police targeting blacks and Latinos. In nearly nine out of 10 searches, police find nothing. Likewise, excessive force by police persists despite Constitution’s prohibition on unreasonable searches/seizures” (Natarajan, 2014). Not only is it a wasteful action, leading to potential problems with the public and unnecessary arrests, it perpetuates the fear culture brought on by police officers and their, at times, unfair treatment of people of color. Many accounts exist that highlight the use of such a program to lead to arrests of people that otherwise would not face legal consequences. A simple act of walking away could be seen as combative and police may charge the person with ‘unlawful conduct’ “Racial profiling — as well as profiling based on religion, ethnicity and national origin — continues to plague our nation despite the constitutional guarantee of equal treatment under the law” (Natarajan, 2014).
Accounts of racial profiling are seen not just in these programs, but in simple areas like traffic tickets. Police officers may choose to ticket people more based on their race. “Rufus Scales emerged from the encounter with four traffic tickets; a charge of assaulting an officer, later dismissed; a chipped tooth; and a split upper lip that required five stitches. That was May 2013” (LaFraniere & Lehren, 2015). Rufus Scales was simply attempting to talk to the officers and was tasered, fell to the floor, and sustained an injury. After the injury, he had to appear in court where he was charged.
Rufus’ brother Devin developed a fear of police as have many black Americans. He even carries a card with him for legal help should police unfairly target him like they did with Rufus. “Today, his brother Devin does not leave home without first pocketing a hand-held video camera and a business card with a toll-free number for legal help. Those pervasive doubts about police mirror those of millions of other African-Americans” (LaFraniere & Lehren, 2015). American citizens like Rufus and Devin should not have to fear the actions of police officers. Police officers are meant to serve as the guardians of the criminal justice system, aimed at preventing and stopping crime at the local level. However, police officers have contributed to the problems of criminal activity by perpetuating the cycle of arrests targeted at non-white populations. As…
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