To what extent is it true to say that high levels of criminality amongst ethnic minorities are a real visible phenomenon? Official statistics on the criminal justice process show some striking differences between ethnic groups. For example, black people are more likely to be imprisoned than other groups. Is this because some ethnic groups are more likely to offend in the first place, or is it because the criminal justice system is racist and discriminates against ethnic minorities. According to official statistics, there are some significant ethnic differences in the likelihood of being involved in the criminal justice system.
The treatment in the criminal justice system varies from male to female. Females are more prone to give out more lenient sentences as opposed to male judges. Part of that is because females are more understanding and nurturing than men are. For example with a female judge you may receive life in prison instead of the death penalty. On the other hand, with a male judge, the chances of receive the full punishment for a particular crime is much higher.
The main idea of the chivalry thesis is this prospect that men are socialised to act in a way more chivalrous – or gentlemanly – toward women so they end up convicting men more than women. Otto Pollak (1950) argued that women’s crimes are less likely to end up in official statistics due to the fact that “men don’t like to accuse or punish women” so the criminal justice system is more lenient toward them. The chivalry thesis can be supported by the work of Graham and Bowling who used self-report studies and found that men still commit more crimes than women although the gap is now smaller. They also found that women are more likely to be cautioned whereas men are more likely to be arrested. Nevertheless, the chivalry thesis also has many criticisms including results from a study carried out in a
Many believe that a government without limits will turn into a government that acts in ways that will disregard the rights of all in all circumstances (Zalman, M. (2008). Those who support the crime control model, however, indicate that these protections hinder law enforcement investigation and allow defendants more privacy than victims are allowed “Crime control emphasizes an efficient criminal process through early determination of guilt by law enforcement agents” and the Fourth Amendment prevents this (Cornell,
Two Models/Criminal Process Ashley Lawrence CJA/364 June 8,2013 Mathew Taylor Two Models/Criminal Process Two models within the criminal justice system play very important roles. One may say that within the political world the two models may even conflict with each other. Crime control model may be more liberal focusing on society and crime, which as for due process is to focus more on a fair opportunity for the one that is accused and many see it as conservative. The 4th, 5th, 6th, and fourteenth amendment all play important roles within the due process model, and the criminal justice system, to make sure everyone is given a fare trial. Due process occurs when fare treatment is given throughout the judicial system.
Whites believe that they are more likely to be victimized by a minority; however statistics show that whites are three times more likely to victimize whites. Most minorities believe that the media misrepresents their group. News media owners believe that this ethnic spin appeals to white viewers and increases profits. The real solutions require a decrease in
Whites began to lynch blacks due to the belief that they were the superior race. In the years between 1882 and 1968, as many as 3,440 blacks were lynched, including men, women, and children. Some whites saw lynchings as offensive, but they supported them in order to keep order among the blacks. Whites believed that if blacks were not in constant fear, they would rebel. The belief of stereotypes played into the lynchings a significant amount.
On television today it can be argued that convicts are portrayed as African Americans too often. In a recent article for the Journal of Communication Travis L. Dixon conducted a survey of Los Angeles County adults to determine whether exposure to the overrepresentation of blacks as criminals on local news programs, attention to crime news, and news trust predicted perceptions of blacks and crime. His study found out that, “Heavier consumption of Blacks’ overrepresentation as criminals on local television news was positively related to the perception of Blacks as violent. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed in light of chronic activation and accessibility of stereotypical constructs,”
With each stage of the funnel, less and less crimes are processed through the system. Many cases tend to be dismissed while others are referred for treatment or counseling. Probation is more likely the case when the courts don’t take the case any further down the system. “Joel Samaha notes, the U.S. Constitution requires the government to support every deprivation of privacy, life, liberty, or property with facts.” (http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/The-Process-of-Criminal-Justice.topicArticleId-10065,articleId-9909.html) Other ways of expressing the funnel effect is that there are way less inmates than suspects and defendants. This really helps get a visual on how the courts really decrease the amount of criminals actually taken fully into the criminal justice system.
(Hallam et al. 2005: 56) Some crimes however are not reported because the victim may be intimidated by the person responsible for the crime, or they may not have faith in the police to pursue the crime if they do report it. Other victims of crime may not report it as they feel that the crime is too minor, or that the police will think it is too minor to pursue. A large amount of sexual crime goes unreported because the victim is either too shocked, afraid or embarrassed. Police can use their discretion as to whether or not an incident is worth reporting, they have to decide if the incident is serious