Racism In Criminal Justice Chapter 6 Summary

After reading the Chapter 5 and 6 it is evident that racism is present throughout the court system. Although the racism is generally paired with law enforcement, the court system has a major issue as well; especially when looking at the jury selection process. When thinking about the court process the jury selection does not really become an issue or brought to the public's attention unless it is a major case. The U.S. Supreme Court has also stated the jury is "an inestimable safeguard against the corrupt or overzealous prosecutor and against the compliant, biased, or eccentric judge" (Pp. 255.) The jury plays a vital role in the criminal justice system. In Chapter 6, it brought up the fact the Hispanics are generally excluded from jury selects. This is surprising because a student would gather from this semesters readings, videos, and class discussions that it would be more or less a problem that African American

This is not surprising because everyone has their bias. However the situation that was used in the book was not because of some one's bias but the blatant racism. For example the statements, "blacks from the low-income areas are less likely to convict" or "There's a resentment for authority. And as a result, you don't want those people on your jury" (Pp. 264.) This is evident that racial profiling does happen inside and out of the courtroom. This is very unfortunately, but to turn the tables, lawyers could do this to benefit them. Is it right? No not at all, but this could be a way to stack the deck in favor for them. In Jack McMahon's, situation this is evident that is a racial motivated idea that he has. Unfortunately, unless a lawyer has been recorded saying who to pick and who not to pick to be on the jury, the Supreme Court is having a hard time as well to determine whether or not peremptory strike has taken