SD51 - Racial and Cultural Insensitivity and Its Impact on the Criminal Justice System
Executive Summary: I. REASON FOR THE STUDY It has been said that the criminal justice system is racially and culturally insensitive when it considers minorities and, therefore, unfair when it comes to those who are involved in the system. It is believed by many that particular key figures in the system such as police, judges, attorneys, probation officers and parole officers are insensitive to those in the minority. This report will offer recommendations to help alleviate this insensitivity. The committee hoped to distinguish between the general population's ill perception of the criminal justice system and the realities of the system. The question that was put to every perception was: "is the perception of the justice system true or false?" If the perception is a correct accusation, then the focus should be on correcting the assessed problem. If the perception is an incorrect accusation, then the focus should be on correcting the perception of the justice system. Part Five covers some of these perceptions throughout the state. II. DESCRIPTION OF RESULTS Several of the listed recommendations in Parts Three and Four mention already available program opportunities that should become mandatory. This is to ensure that all offenders going through the system get an equal opportunity to take part in a program that is needed by all. This is so that it does not matter whether the offender is black or white, rich or poor, which oftentimes is the basis of institutional discrimination, or that there is a lack of space in any given program. This report does not necessarily give a definite plan of action. What it does, is give options to choose from when it is time to define that plan. It was designed to give an overall look at the justice system and to then give ideas on improving racial and cultural sensitivity in key areas of the system. |
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