Racism In The Criminal Justice System

In the spring of 1991,” In Los Angeles, California, four Los Angeles police officers that had been caught beating an unarmed African-American motorist in an amateur video an acquitted of any wrongdoing in the arrest.” [“1992 Riot in Los Angeles”] We hear and read about police brutality more than we should. Police brutality is a major problem in our country. Many times it is pushed aside or covered up. Sadly we find that a major reason for all this happens, has to do with racism as well.

Police officer misconduct has been a publicly controversial topic for many years. Many people are familiar with the infamous “Ramparts” division of the LAPD where they committed acts of beatings and extortion and the “Riders” of the Oakland Police Department in their brutality against suspects (Criminal Law, n.d.).These examples are just a few of the problems that have occurred and occurring within our criminal justice system. The examples previously described also provide a connection of one familiar form of police misconduct and that is brutality. Police brutality is just one of the many forms of police misconduct and the types that follow under misconduct include theft/fraud, bribery, sexual misconduct, use of excessive force, domestic

Police Brutality and Race Police brutality is not a new problem in the United States. It has occurred throughout history and has affected all genders, ethnicities, and races. Recently, however, police brutality towards African Americans has become a controversial topic in the news media, and has prompted heated discussions and angry public outcry about race relations and civil rights throughout all sections of the country. Ever since the Michael Brown shooting in 2014, which was caught on camera and viewed widely on national television and on social media, the police have been under scrutiny by both the news media and the general population to stop their use of physical force and unnecessary violence when apprehending and confronting criminals.

According to the article Racism and Police Brutality in America, “Whites believe that Blacks are disproportionately inclined to engage in criminal behavior and are the deserving on harsh treatment by the criminal justice system” (Chaney 484). The justice system has unfortunately followed this idea. The African American race has been a minority in the legal system in the past; however, it has been much worse as of 2015. Some individuals assume it is acceptable to refrain from acknowledging this fact. Racism is an issue in the midst of police brutality, and it should be resolved.

“Frequent exposure to media reports of police abuse or corruption is a strong predictor of perceptions of misconduct and supports the belief that is common.” (France-Respers 1). But unfortunately, it also brings me disheartened feelings. Recently, I was on twitter and I stumbled across a video of a young white male who was roughly about twenty to twenty-five years of age who was being handled so aggressively by about six officers while he was NOT resisting.

Policing has seen much progress. Some reforms do work, and some types of abuse have been reduced. Today, among both police officials and rank and file officers, it is widely recognized that police brutality hinders good law enforcement. Whenever a new case of police brutality comes to light, people in the community must respond politically to ensure justice for the victim. These actions must be timely to be truly effective.

Police mercilessness has been a diligent issue confronted by African Americans. The disappointment of government to shield Black individuals from untamed law requirement officers

Many police officers get off easily because they call it as self-defense, but it’s not. People being brutally beaten or killed, riots breaking out, mourning of neighborhoods, lawsuits against police departments all can be at stake of police officers using excessive force. This is part of the reason our country has been in an uproar. In the last few years’ police brutality has been at an all-time high. Because of it, movements have been started and protests have broken out.

Annotated Bibliography Books Dudley, William, et al., editors. Police Brutality. D.L. Bender, 1991. • Police Brutality gives information on how police brutality is a widespread issue in the United States and explains different controversies and cases that relate to police brutality. • The editors of this book include activists and nonfiction authors who provide reliable information on what happened during different incidences of police brutality and the viewpoints and controversies that come with it.

Because police brutality has increased to such extremes, misconduct has had many impacts on society and the law. Currently, there is great mistrust between citizens and police departments. Just as the King attacking caused riots in the L.A community, the recent brutality reports have caused major issues in cities nationwide. Some of these reports include the 1999, Amadou Diallo case when he came home from work and was shot at 41 times by the police and died. There was also the Eric Garner quandary in 2014 who was choked to death by police.

The last few years have been filled with many major news stories, ranging from terrorist attacks to mass shootings across the country. However, one of the most concerning and reoccurring themes of the past few years has been police misconduct. All across the country there have been incidents of police brutality, and sadly a lot of these incidents have led to the death of those involved. One of the most infamous cases of police brutality is the incident involving Eric Garner. Eric Garner, a forty-three-year-old African American male, was choked to death by the police in Staten Island, New York on July 17, 2014.

Police try the best that they can every day to make the world a safer place. In the process, many question their methods and cover up it up as “misconduct.” Our opinions of police in America are heavily influenced by the news every day in such a negative way that for some it’s hard to even believe that they are there to help anymore; police are now viewed as the “villains” in certain parts of the world. We question if police use too much force when dealing with the public and the answer is that they do not. They are put in difficult situations and given weapons that should be used in the army rather than on your average citizen.

Racism & The criminal justice system Based on minority, culture and language, A lot of white police officers in particular are subject to control certain areas that mainly target communities populating a majority of the country 's minorities (African Americans and Hispanics). This process is causing a lot of confusion and discrimination coming from the police department which results in violence and rebellions due to people 's anger and frustration of the United States Criminal Justice System. People are being pressured to believe that the criminal justice system is choosing sides and is not balanced for all races. The battle between what’s right and wrong, What’s fair and unfair and how to solve problems is causing major issues in the U.S.

Police Brutality is an ongoing problem and existent concern in the United States and should be resolved immediately. Law enforcement must function as an element that consists of organized and civilized officers. The presence of police brutality is becoming more of an issue as society grows. The problem posed by the illegal exercise of police power is an ongoing reality for individuals of a disfavored race, class, or sexual orientation. Police brutality must be stopped so that police do not forget who they are serving – not themselves, but the public.

The consistent abuse of power by police within the same communities often raises question of protection of life and liberty. While it is hard to determine the exact extent of police abuse, it is evident though streams of media reports, protesting, and the occasional riot, that many in society fear, that police abuse of power has become the norm and that the abuse is violating their basis human and civil rights. This paper briefly discusses relatable events that can be understood by most, as to why police actions of abuse have caused protest and riots, especially in the minority communities, where the overgrowing concerns by the public is that police abuse of power has shifted from