Cultural Diversity in the USA - Assignment Example

Introduction In contemporary US criminal justice system, there exists great disparity in incarceration and conviction of offences. Most of the US citizens incarcerated by the legal and criminal justice systems such as the minority individuals including African Americans in comparison to the Whites. The paper explores the inherent disparities that exist in incarceration of criminal perpetrators within US. In addition, the paper discusses rationale behind the aforementioned rise in prosecution, conviction, and sentencing of African Americans compared to the Whites. In ensuring, that there is fairness and honesty in US criminal justice system it is imperative to involve considerable percentage of minority groups in lawmaking and enforcement. Reasons why black Men between 25-29 ages are likely to face jailing compared to whites or Latinos There are various reasons related to social relations, economy and politics that may associate black men to frequent jailing compared to whites. Low economic status Black men of age 25-29 face more jail terms compared to the whites due to their lower socioeconomic status. Most of the blacks have severe economic problems and languish in high rates of poverty whereas the whites and Latinos are well off. This factor makes it difficult for the blacks to afford enough money to feed their families and meet their basic needs. Moreover, most of the black children live in single-parent families. Parents from these families engage in criminal activities that get them to jail. Unemployment The blacks suffer high rates of unemployment compared to the whites and Latinos. Those who have acquired some jobs get dismal incomes that cannot help them feed their families or even meet their basic needs. In addition, the blacks do not attain quality education that could help them acquire jobs. This further makes them suffer in poverty and thus tempted to engage in criminal activities. Lower presentation of black people in the legal system The number of African American lawyers and judges in the legislature system remains lower compared to the whites and Latinos. This makes the blacks criminals to be discriminated more compared to white offenders leading to more jail times and heavy sentences. Racial discrimination Black students face harsher punishments in school than the white peers do. The black students are suspended and jailed for long terms. This leads to more black youth encountering the juvenile-justice system at an earlier age. In addition, this early jail may interfere with their education progress making them to give up. Incidences of Criminal prosecutions, Convictions, Prison sentences, and time served in jail for Blacks and Whites Based on time served in prison, African Americans faces the longest maximum sentences for committed crimes compared to Whites and Hispanic individuals. Criminal systems often finds ease in sentencing blacks to more jail time mainly due to their history of constant criminal offences, discrimination and dominance of whites within the law enforcement agencies. Consequently, it remains apparent that blacks face more prison sentences amongst the minority groups and Whites population in America (Drake, 2013). Similarly, there exist higher incidences of criminal prosecutions of blacks compared to Whites. For instance, traffic office patrols comprehensively searches for blacks’ cars more compared to those of whites leading to increased prosecution cases of the minority group. Consequently, there exist higher rates of African American arrests to nearly three times in comparison to Whites (Gao, 2014). McCleskey v. Kemp involved the murder of a black man for robbery and murder convictions. The death penalty shows the number of incidences of conviction of black population more than whites. Research indicates that blacks remain convicted for death penalty at least five times. In addition, such cases of blacks’ conviction normally result into at least one year longer jail term compared to Whites. Moreover, US criminal justice system normally prefers to sentence blacks to prison than place them on probation. On the contrary, Whites seldom face prison admissions but rather receive probation advancements by the legal systems. Factors associated with involvement in Crime within United States Poor academic performance Poor academic performance may lead to one failing in elementary school, this later may make one engage in violent behavior due to personal stress. Truant youth who drop out of school are more likely to engage in criminal activities. Moreover, association with friends who get involved in risky behaviors may make an individual engage in criminal activities. High unemployment rates Many American citizens who lack jobs among the youth and adults are tempted to engage in criminal activities to acquire money that they can use to finance their basic needs. Moreover, most people engage in drug peddling that is a prohibited business. Such illegal businesses contribute to criminal offences. Poor economic status Notably, many people languish in poverty and lack the capital to acquire the necessary resources. This creates a sense of hopelessness among people that makes them engage in criminal activities. In addition, family problems such as single parenting, inadequate parenting skills and poor communication can contribute to feeling of worthlessness, which can lead to involvement in criminal activities. Drug usage Abuse of drugs such as alcohol could lead to criminal activities. Using drugs make one to engage in violence activities such as fighting and even stealing to meet their daily requirements mainly due to unconsciousness or change in behavior. Engaging in these criminal activities could get them in jail. Why the above factors The main reason for choosing the aforementioned factors relates to their dominance in contributing to increased criminal offence. For instance, poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, and drug abuse highly introduces youthful American citizens to criminal activities. What happens to crime victims within the criminal justice system? The following are some of the convictions that criminal justice systems confer onto crime victims. Probation Judges within the criminal justice system may place the offender on probation. This is done under control in the community. Moreover, release of offenders who have served part of their jail sentences may under certain conditions be on probation with supervision by corrections system. However, victims who violate the conditions of their probation remains sent back to jail. Sentencing the victims to death The judges have a range of choices depending on the type of crime and may decide on sentencing the victims to death or life imprisonment. When the crimes are serious or unacceptable for instance murder, the victims remains sentenced to death. Restitution Restitution relates to an amount of money that the judge may order an offender to pay. Some crimes are not worthy sentencing to jail thus paying a certain amount is always considered. The payment goes to the victim or government and has the function of covering some of the specific expenses or loses the victims experienced because of the crime. Incarceration Criminals remain incarcerated for a certain period. In the jail, law officers punish the offenders as a way of rehabilitation and teaching them moral ethics. Moreover, the justice system helps the offenders to learn how to fit back into the community. The offenders can undertake these programs while they are still under custody. Comparison between Numbers of US Black and white legal officers Judges During presidency of Jimmy Carter, there were more appellate judges in US compared to the contemporary status. Employment statistics within US court systems indicates that Latino or black jurist only occupy about one-third of available jobs. In addition, unimaginably a single federal judge exists in US who remains as a Native American (LFOA, 2015). Moreover, the US states have arguably fewer African American judges compared to whites. For instance, only three out of ten judges in Florida State are blacks compared to Whites. The dominant number of White judges in US legal systems shows why most criminal justice convictions, prosecutions, and penalties comprises of African Americans compared to White people. Lawyers Essentially, there are few numbers of black lawyers within the legal system in US compared to Whites. Based on 1998 survey, there were 7 percent Hispanic and African American lawyers in US. However, the number has contemporarily risen to 10 percent. The low number of lawyers within US legal systems attributes to discrimination, low University enrolment of black law students, and poverty. Low number of black lawyers within US criminal justice systems inherently contributes to the observed high number of African American court convictions, longer jail term, prosecutions, and harsher sentences including death penalties. The aforementioned legal actions on blacks results mainly due to inadequate black lawyers to defend and protect African American rights (Kerby, 2012). Lawmakers The inherent number of political representatives indicates the extent of disparity in profession within US. Handful blacks overcome the political disparities and discrimination to either become a house of representative member or congressperson (NAACP, 2015). Whites mostly dominate the lawmaking sector and contribute to the highest leadership roles within the political agencies. Moreover, until the current US president won elections and become the most famous politician globally, there existed negligible number of powerful blacks in lawmaking. Rationale behind racial disparities within US legal systems and structured inequality indication The structured inequality and disparity between Whites and blacks within US legal systems inherently results from law enrolment of the latter in law schools and illiteracy. Most blacks are poor and illiterate; a condition that advantageously encourages Whites dominance. Besides, racial discrimination of minority groups within US political arena and legal systems contributes to the lowest number of blacks’ lawmakers, lawyers, and judges. Conclusion In conclusion, the above discussions indicate why there exists arguably higher number of black population incarceration in US compared to the Whites and Hispanics. There exists low representation of African Americans in US legal and criminal justice systems attributable to few numbers of black lawyers, lawmakers and judges. Besides, blacks face higher levels of legal misrepresentations including criminal prosecutions, convictions, longer jail term, and sentences due increased involvement in illegal behaviors. African American population mainly remains involved such criminal activities due to higher levels of illiteracy and poverty. References Drake, Bruce. September 6, 2013. Incarceration gap widens between whites and blacks. Facts Tank. Web. February 7, 2015. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/09/06/incarceration-gap-between-whites-and-blacks-widens/ Gao, George. July 18, 2014. Chart of the Week: The black-white gap in incarceration rates. Fact Tank. Web. February 7, 2015. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/07/18/chart-of-the-week-the-black-white-gap-in-incarceration-rates/ Kerby, Sophia. March 13, 2012. The Top 10 Most Startling Facts About People of Color and Criminal Justice in the United States: A Look at the Racial Disparities Inherent in Our Nation’s Criminal-Justice System. American Progress. Web. February 7, 2015. Retrieved from https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/race/news/2012/03/13/11351/the-top-10-most-startling-facts-about-people-of-color-and-criminal-justice-in-the-united-states/ Lawyers For One America (LFOA). 2015. The Numbers. Web. February 7, 2015. Retrieved from http://www.lfoa.org/barnone/barnone_the_numbers.html National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). 2015. Criminal Justice fact Sheet. Web. February 7, 2015. Retrieved from http://www.naacp.org/pages/criminal-justice-fact-sheet Read More