Criminal Justice - Trayvon Martin Poll Finds Stark Racial Divide - Case Study Example

Criminal Justice - Trayvon Martin Poll Finds Stark Racial Divide The killing of a youngster, Trayvon Martin by Zimmerman has raised controversy in the whole America, with the black claiming they are a victim of circumstances. The stand your ground law, which protects Americans, has also been in question as to the effectiveness as well as the people it protects. Black Americans fear for their future in the country after the killing of one of their own by a white person. It is in this regards that a rift is developing in terms of race and ethnicity in the American land, a factor that needs resolution. In the recent polls not less than 55 percent of all Americans are in the view that minorities, as well as blacks, receive unequal treatment in the criminal justice system. In as much as whites remain undecided on the issue it is vivid that the whites are of the same view that blacks do not get fair treatment. This is from the statistics that half of white Americans belief in the fact that African Americans do not get fair treatment. Gorge Zimmerman who was not jailed for the murder bases all the above arguments on the fatal shooting of Trayvon (Thompson & Cohen, 2012). The criminal justice system of America, therefore, causes grapple among people causing the looming racial divide experienced in the region. In the count of ten blacks, eight out of the total, claim Trayvon murder unjustified, in addition, not dealt with appropriately. This is statistics, which if compared, with the 38 percent support from the white people population reveal that each race purports its own. From the data collection on the common, stand your ground law, it is clear that not all is well. This is because as the blacks oppose the law, which discriminates them, the whites continue to encourage it. This shows the enmity and hatred developing between the two races a factor, which if not solved can cause diverse effects of the general outlook of the American criminal system. In as much as current events try to shape the criminal justice system as proposed by Dennis Parker, more emphasis is still needed in order to create reforms in the sector which gets worsened by racial discrimination (Thompson & Cohen, 2012). According to Parker, publication of racial discrimination occurrences, instigate the widening gap. He, therefore, proposed limited use of the media in covering such cases a factor that can help in revitalizing the whole justice system. In my view, blaming the media is like an escape goat to the non-human activity where a teen age gets killed, and no conclusive investigation can be done to punish the people responsible. If this is not solved, fear of the same even happening grapple American people especially the blacks who find themselves in the offensive side. The issues are of foremost importance, which needs immediate attention. This should happen regardless of attention and favor of a single group. The American justice system, therefore, remains a porous system for only few people. It is in this regards that a change and resolution finds urgency (Thompson & Cohen, 2012). Inequality and criminal justice are two sides of the same coin as one can lead to the other according Samuel Walker, Cassia Spohn and Miriam Delone. Raymond Towler is one person who has experienced the unfairness of the criminal justice system; whereby he served twenty-eight and half years in prison for a crime he did not commit. The erroneous ruling came because of inequality since he was not given enough time to defend himself as well as provide enough information. Instead, the court denied testimony from two of his friends while depending on testimony from children. The case had no physical evidence to accuse Towler, but the court sentenced him to prison (Walker, Spohn & DeLone, 2011). Despite the fact that inequality directly relates to crime and can influence the criminal justice system, the main grapple is, does inequality intricate crimes. Development of social classes is among the basic causes of inequality. The poor continue to struggle with an objective of meeting their needs with no savings. At the same time, the middle class families are able to spend and save for other expenses. The rich, on the other hand, can run their operations sustainably while undertaking other operations. Wealth, therefore, play significant roles in regulating inequality; this is because either it can perpetuate or regulate. Consequently, unemployment increases the alarming rate of inequality and in the process encouraging unfair criminal justice system. In America, people of a given color are disproportionately represented where they get denied job opportunities (Walker, Spohn & DeLone, 2011). This also contributes to inequality. Poverty status notably play an imperative role towards discouraging or motivating inequality. 20.7 percent of children found in the United States lives in poverty according to the national centre for children living in poverty. Last but importantly, residential segregation among various cities in America reveals the racially homogeneous neighborhoods. From the social disorganization theory, ecological characteristics of disadvantage groups offer delinquency in reducing crimes. Consequently, differential association theory associates crime to undefinite interctionism where individuals engage in criminal activities without finding reason. According to Robert Dubin, social differences drive people into crimes. From this perspective claims by Samuel Walker, Cassia Spohn and Miriam Delone is true. This is because the authors claim inequality as well as social structure segregation as among the factors that lead to porous criminal systems. The social theory from this perspective is justified, as the normal systems cannot offer assistance needed. However, amicable solution is on demand, to reduce the social tension as excessive often leads to high crime rates. According to Edwin Sutherland’s theory of differential association, people learn from others through interaction (Walker, Spohn & DeLone, 2011). When one gets in a bad company, he involves himself in the criminal activities thereby encouraging crime. This is facilitated by the culture conflict theory, which encourage people to get into crime for vengeful purposes. From this theory, I disagree with the phenomenology and ethno methodology that relates a crime one commits to his behavior. This is an indexical method with no relation to the inequality experienced in the criminal justice system. Last but importantly, Karl Marx proposed internal tension, to be among leading factors in causing destruction in the society. The feminist theory, for instance, advocates for social equity of women in the criminal justice system while opposing patriarchy and sexism. In as much as the conflict theory has been in force, unfair justice system remains common with women falling victims (Walker, Spohn & DeLone, 2011). In as much as, the American criminal, justice participants remain exorbitant of creating reforms in the sector, people still feel much remains. Consequently, the criminal justice system gets blamed for making judgments on race, color, social structure and ethnicity a factor which motivates inequality and in the process leading to crimes. It is in this regards that much still needs to be undertaken to create the perfect legal system. References Thompson, K. & Cohen, J. (2012). Criminal Justice: Trayvon Martin case: Poll finds stark racial divide. Washington Politics. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trayvon-martin-case-poll-finds-stark-racial-divide/2012/04/10/gIQAEETX8S_story.html?_r=3&ref=us Walker, S., Spohn, C. & DeLone, M. (2011). The Color of Justice: Race, Ethnicity, and Crime in America. New York, NY: Cengage Learning. Read More