Wilbanks Position Wilbanks' Position Asserts That "The

Wilbanks Position Wilbanks' position asserts that "the perception that the criminal justice system is racist is a myth." Wilbanks argues that while there are individuals within the system that are racist, the system itself is not racist. He also asserts that his belief does not discuss the overall racial climate of American Society that created the criminal justice system since he feels that the attitude of the society has no bearing on whether or not the structure of the criminal justice system is racist.

The data he uses is based entirely on previous studies and is not weighed against different variables that could prove it inadequate in determining whether or not the system is racist. My Position My position is that the structure of the criminal justice system is racist. My belief is based on the fact that the society is founded on racist beliefs that affect every aspect of life including the criminal justice system.

It is impossible to separate the attitudes and beliefs of a society and the way that citizens in that society are treated by the systems established by that society. This statement is true because the attitudes of a society, whether they are racists or sexists, help to fashion the way that people are treated in that society. The American juvenile justice system is a prime example of this.

In addition the assertion that racism in the criminal justice system is just a myth wholly ignores the experiences of those who have been victims of racism within the system. By ignoring the actual experiences of these individuals and relying totally on data compiled by a single agency the true climate of the system can't really be understood.

A myth is defined as a falsehood or a fairy tale, when something has actually been experienced by an individual then it is real and therefore can not be defined as a myth. My position compares the experiences of blacks that have actually been through the system with whites that have also been through the same system and have been accused of the same crime. When these to groups are compared it is evident that the criminal justice system treats them differently on every level.

Therefore the conclusion can be drawn that the very structure of the system is racist. Furthermore, if the individuals, such as police officers and District Attorneys are treating people differently on the basis of race than the system is racist. A system that allows the racist treatment to be perpetuated is, at its' core, racist.

The police and attorneys that enforce the law are at the most fundamental level of the system and if they can't be trusted then the client can't get a fair trial and may be convicted of a crime that they did not commit or receive a harsher sentence than a white person who has committed the same crime. Additionally the process of determining whether or not the structure of the system is racist should include as many variables.