Negative Opinions of Minority Communities - an Injurious Stereotype - Research Proposal Example

Negative opinions of minority communities an injurious stereotype. Research Proposal Adam Bappert University of Mount Olive Table of Contents Abstract................................................................................................................................3 Introduction.........................................................................................................................5 Literature Review…………………………….……..……………………………………..5 Method................................................................................................................................7 Research Design..................................................................................................................8 Procedure.............................................................................................................................9 Results................................................................................................................................10 Discussion and recommendadtions………………..……………..………………………11 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………...…..11 Tables and graphs..............................................................................................................13 References..........................................................................................................................15 Abstract In the United States and many other places around the world, there are ethnic divisions where individuals are either classified as the minority or the majority group. Based on the fact that the minority are disadvantaged by their status and have fewer resources and opportunities, they tend to engage themselves in deviant behaviors and different types of crime. This has led to the creation of a negative opinion towards these groups by those who are considered to be from the majority groups. In addition, it has resulted in the formation of a stereotype that associates members of the minority groups to crime and illegal behavior. In turn, a higher number of them have been victimized for the wrong reasons. The purpose of this study is to critically examine the disparity in the rate of victimization among the different races and ethnic communities in the U.S. The study is motivated by the high reports on victimization among the minority groups when compared to the Whites. Previously conducted research indicates that that the rate of crime and victimization among Blacks and Hispanics is higher than that among the Whites. It thus examines the underlying causes of deviant behaviors among the minority groups and what can be done to solve them and reduce the rate of victimization among the members of the minority groups. The quantitative method of data collection will be used in this study to compare the number of Blacks and Hispanics who are victimized against whites. It will be facilitated through the use of questionnaires on a sample of the population within the community and interviews for some of the convicted inmates. The random sampling method will be used to ascertain that the lifestyle exhibited by members of the minority groups within the United States is as a result of the unfavorable conditions that they are exposed to. These result in higher rates of crime and hence victimization, which results from an injury stereotype. In this case, the government must ensure equity and even distribution of resources among these groups to make them more independent, reduce their rate of crime and the ultimate victimization from individuals from the majority groups. Introduction Negative opinions of minority communities an injurious stereotype. In the recent past higher rates of victimization have been reported in the United States, especially among the Blacks and Hispanics who are considered to come from the minority group. This practice is associated with the stereotype that Blacks and Hispanics are criminals and hence should be made victims of their actions. In this sense, research and other records have reflected a great disparity in the number of Whites who are victimized against the Blacks and Hispanic who are victimized. They associate most of these to the high crime rates among the minorities. To a larger extent, these results from the lack of education, single parenting and the absconding of duties by fathers owing to constrained resources and opportunities. It is, therefore, the role of the government to improve on this so as to make sure that these rates are reduced. Literature Review There has been a major growth in the research performed in the area of race, crime and victimization all over the world. The main aim of such studies is to find out why a larger number of individuals from most of the minority groups tend to experience a higher rate of victimization when compared to Whites. They show that as opposed to the Blacks and Hispanics, Whites are engaged in minor offenses. As such, they are not as stereotyped as their minority counterparts and are not exposed to extreme forms of victimization. For a large part of the century, various studies have been conducted with a focus on the racial differences in delinquency, victimization, crime, and the processing of criminal justice items (Kalunta-Crumpton, & Palgrave Connect (2012). Great comparisons have been made to ascertain the difference in the number of individuals from each race and ethnic groups in the correctional facilities and those in the outside community who have experienced any forms of victimization. This is mainly in the effort to determine the key factors that contribute to the stereotypes on crime, the high rates of crimes and what can be done to reduce these incidences. A proper example is the supposed sentencing that is done on racial grounds. It is stated that more Blacks and Hispanics have been placed on correctional facilities based on charges that were given owing to their racial backgrounds. Most of these studies have employed the use primary data collection methods such as questionnaires and interviews as well as surveys done on the government records. According to most of the studies conducted on rate and crime, Blacks and Hispanics are thought to engage in frequent crimes because of their poor living conditions. It is the contrast between their living conditions and hence their presented opportunities that there are minimized rates of crimes among the whites. In addition, their lifestyle makes it difficult for them to be regularly victimized. In this context, racial differences have led to the stereotypes that more Blacks and Hispanics are involved in crimes hence the victimization that comes with any form of suspicion or arrest. For this reason, a great emphasis on the area of crime and racism has been placed in a majority of the study areas. While Blacks and Hispanics have been found to receive harsher punishments, even when they commit minor felonies, whites who commit major crimes like robbery and murder have been subjected to lighter sentences. As a result, it is fuelling the ideologies that form a major part of the discussions in most schools (Hartley, & Miller, 2010). In addition, research findings from the Department of Justice show that current trends in criminal justice are seemingly contributing to injustice based on racial lines. In fact, the US Department of Justice findings show currently 1 of every 3 African American, 1 of every 6 Latino, and 1 of every 17 White males born are expected to be imprisoned and victimized during the course of his lifetime. It has also been associated with gender in the sense that with respect to women, about 1 of every 18 African American, 1 of every 45 Latino, and 1 of every 111 White females are expected to face imprisonment in their lifetime (Alexander, 2010). These results are an indication of criminal justice based on racial lines with greater impact on African Americans. This series of data has served as a motivation towards the need to explore the topic in detail. Most students from these minority groups have experienced a high level of discrimination versus differential involvement, violent cultures versus structural inequalities as well as empiricism versus critical theory especially in schools. As such, it is enough proof that the empirical data that is associated with race and crime is in itself sufficient evidence of racism. In this case, as is indicated by Bobo and Thomsom (2006), despite the presence of high amounts of empirical data, most of the criminologists are not bold enough to speak about race and crime and victimization in an open set up for fear of being considered to be racists themselves (Hurwitz & Peffley, 1997). It is evidenced in most justice systems where Blacks and Hispanics have been accused of crimes simply because of being found in a neighborhood with abject poverty. In such cases, it is only realized later that the crimes were nonexistent. Method The quantitative method of data collection and analysis is used in this case to determine the number of individuals who are involved in crime and are victimized from each of the ethnic and racial groups. In order to ensure that results obtained in the study are valid and accurate the data collection methods that will be used in this study will be from primary sources. In order for the results of the study to be feasible, the entire activities are estimated to take about one month. The method of data collection besides the use of questionnaires and interviews will include analysis of records that provide an account and details of the crime and victimization rates. These materials will include the journal articles, books, meta-analyses and the use of data from the National Crime Victimization Survey. In addition to these, primary sources will be used in order to obtain first hand information from the involved parties. These will include an interview with the National Academy of Sciences that keeps a majority of the records and files on crimes and victimization reports. In addition to this, questionnaires and interviews will be provided for some of criminals who have been arrested for having been involved in a number of offenses. They will provide information on their racial and ethnic backgrounds as well as the crimes in which they have been involved and any degree of what may be construed as racially motivated victimization that they have received. Research design The sample population will include prisoners who have been charged for various offenses as well as a sample from the population to indicate whether they have been victimized before based on the stereotype of high crime rates among the Blacks and Hispanics as opposed to whites. In this case, therefore, the same proportion of Whites, Blacks and Hispanics will be taken for accurate results. An equal number of individuals will be taken from both the community and the prison. There will also be a balance in gender to determine whether crime rates and victimization among the minority groups are linked to these factors. In addition, the range of ages between the participants will be highly varied to ensure that a proper picture is obtained from the results. There will be a total of 60 participants to take part in the study. 30 of these will be taken from the varied prisons in different areas in the US. Similarly, the other half will be of members taken out of the members of the community. An equal number of members from the prison and the community will be taken in the same area. There will also be a great gender balance in this study. Moreover, the age distribution will be broad. Therefore, 30 members from the community will be fill in questionnaires in order to find out whether they have been victimized on the basis of their crime. 30 participants who will comprise criminals charged for various offenses and confined in prisons located in various areas of the United States will also be interviewed on same. 15 of them from each group will be males while the other 15 will be females. In addition, from each group, there will be 10 participants from each group will be from the Hispanic, Black and White ethnic background. The ages will be distributed randomly between 18 and 45. Procedure Therefore, this study will involve 10 members of the panel in the National Academy of sciences who will be in a position to answer a number of questions about the statistics involved about race, crime and victimization from their records. In addition another 30 participants each from the community and the prisons will take part in the study. They will include inmates and individuals in the community who have been placed on other community services. They will be randomly selected from the represented study group and made up of equal number of Black, White and Hispanic participants. The study will avoid a bias approach in the selection of participants and maintain a balance approach to the racial and ethnic line. It will ensure that at least ten of each participant will be from varied racial and ethnic origins. Results The anticipated results should indicate that individuals from the races and ethnic communities that fall under the category of minority groups have a higher likelihood of taking part in the more serious crimes than the felonies. For this reason, they are likely to experience more cases of victimization as opposed to those from individuals in the majority groups. In this sense, whites tend to be involved in less serious crimes when compared to the blacks and the Hispanics. Recorded data suggests that more individuals from the Black and Hispanic communities are involved in more serious crimes that include robbery and homicides when compared to whites. It is because of this that there are varied rates of risks for victimization among individuals of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. This means that more blacks have reported incidences of victimization than the whites. From the records kept by the National Crime and Victimization Survey and the National Academy of sciences, there are more Blacks and Hispanics who are involved in serious crimes such as murder, robbery, rape and assault as opposed to the whites to take part in minor crimes such as minor theft. This is shown in the Fig. 1 From the interviews and questionnaires, this trend was also reflected when more blacks and Hispanics admitted to having been involved in more serious crimes and victimization than the whites. Fig. 2 Discussion and Recommendations It is evident that the race and ethnic origin of an individual play a vital role in the type of crimes in which they are involved as well as the level of bullying or victimization that they are likely to receive. Evidence shows that the nature of conditions to which one is exposed determines this. This is a result of the available resources, the quality and nature of life to which individuals are exposed. Individuals with lower level of education are not able to get jobs hence resort to crime. This is besides the particular gender of the individual which also plays a vital role in determining the rate of crime. They are determined by the resources and equal assignment of facilities among the different people. The blacks tend to be disadvantaged in most of the resources leading to their involvement in higher rates of crimes when compared to the whites who have sufficient facilities. It is important that the government in the United States as well as those of the other areas take responsibility to provide quality education for most people to help decrease frustrations and engaging in crime as a resort. In addition, citizens should be empowered to take charge of their social and financial lives. With this, the basic amenities that include healthcare services, jobs, education and the income distribution will be fair. It will decrease the numbers of those who feel disadvantaged and unable to cope with the varied challenges in life, which have to be solved financially. In turn, there will be a reduced rate of crime especially among those who are considered to belong to the minority groups as they will be in a position to secure good jobs. Conclusion Although race, relations and progress in the US has undergone many changes in the recent past, there is still the major division that exists between the Blacks and the Whites. This rift has grown immensely especially in relation to the treatment and services offered to both groups. The Whites have continuously enjoyed the privileges while the Blacks have continued to experience great struggles in a number of areas. There are also other factors than include more single mothers, school dropout and the use of drugs that may be of great effect. For this reason the rate of crime among the blacks has been recorded to be on the rise when compared to that of the white counterparts whether males or females. In turn the attitude and notion that other people have against the blacks has been highly tampered with in a negative sense. It is because of this that a dangerous stereotype is formed such that when compared to the whites, the blacks have also been victimized and bullied more times. These factors call for the improvement of the facilities and amenities that are made available for the black population among other minority groups. With this, their livelihood is likely to change and improve and thus decrease the incidences when they are involved in crime. As a result the image of others towards them will change and the level of victimization decreased. Tables and Graphs Major crimes Victimization Whites 10% 5% Blacks 80% 95% Hispanics 60% 75% Latinos 40% 60% American Indians 30% 40% Non Hispanics blacks 50% 50% Fig. 1: Comparison between crime rate and victimization among the different racial and ethnic groups Burglary Murder Rape Robbery Victimization Whites 3 2 2 1 2 Blacks 3 4 4 5 4 Hispanics 3 2 3 4 3 Latinos 2 2 2 3 3 American Indians 2 1 1 3 2 Non Hispanic blacks 3 3 2 2 2 Fig 2: Nature of crimes committed by individuals from various ethnic groups. References Alexander, M. (2010). The new Jim Crow: Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness. New York: The New Press. Bobo, D., & Thompson, V. (2006). Unfair by design: The war on drugs, race, and the legitimacy of the criminal justice system. Social Research, 73(2), 445-472. Hurwitz, J., & Peffley, M. (1997). Public perceptions of race and crime: The role of racial stereotypes. American Journal of Political Science, 41(2), 375-401. Hartley, D., & Miller, M. (2010). Cracking the media myth: Reconsidering sentencing severity for cocaine offenders by drug type. Criminal Justice Review, 35(1), 67-89. Kalunta-Crumpton, A., & Palgrave Connect. (2012). Race, ethnicity, crime and criminal justice in the Americas. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Read More