Throughout the United States, a disproportionate percentage of racial
minorities become caught up in the juvenile and criminal justice systems. It
would be easy to simply attribute this large discrepancy to the notion that
people of different racial groups commit different types of crimes. Yet data
suggests that this is not the case, particularly among young people.
Disproportionate minority contact (DMC) raises difficult issues for the
American criminal justice system. It threatens victim cooperation with police
and prosecutors, the participation of minority jurors, and the validity of
judicial decisions among members of minority and majority communities alike.
Most fundamentally, it challenges the basic American assumption that everyone
receives "equal justice under law."
This unit highlights two different aspects of disproportionate minority
contact. It examines the practice of racial profiling which some experts
consider as the major cause of disproportionate traffic stops on minorities and
a resulting skew in the racial composition of those charged, convicted and
incarcerated. It also explores current trends and controversies relating to
juveniles in detention, particularly the disproportionate number of minority
youth in confinement despite arrest rates similar to those of white offenders.
Focus Questions
Should the police be allowed to consider race when deciding whether to stop
someone?
If in Chicago or other cities in Illinois a disproportionate number of
minorities are arrested and detained, should the City of Chicago or other
cities form police/citizen committees to investigate why and to develop a plan
based on their findings?
Should Illinois be compelled by the federal government to justify any
over-representation of minorities at every stage of their juvenile justice
systems or lose federal funding for its youth programs?
Objectives
Examine what role race plays in the criminal justice system.
Identify common public attitudes about law enforcement.
Explain racial profiling and disproportionate minority confinement and express
a reasoned opinion on what should be done about these issues.
State and support reasoned opinions about proposed policies and legislation.
Propose alternative policies where appropriate.
Materials
A. The Limits of Authority: Racial Profiling
B. What Should Be Done About Profiling?
C. Responding to Disproportionate Minority Contact
D. Looking at Public Policy: G R A D E
E. Juvenile Justice: Current Trends and Controversies
F. Disproportionate Minority Contact: Suggested Service Projects
Disproportionate Minority Contact: Selected Internet Resources
Last updated: September 15, 2006
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