Question.3786 - Topic 3: In what ways is race a factor in the overrepresentation of African American men on death row? In what ways can we address the overrepresentation of African American men on death row?
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Assignment 2: Explore a Topic Related to Corrections Topic 3: In what ways is race a factor in the overrepresentation of African American men on death row? In what ways can we address the overrepresentation of African American men on death row? This paper will show that the presence of African Americans predominantly in the death row has its basis on racism, social injustices, and prejudices that are prevalent within the criminal justice system. Knowledge of these dynamics is helpful in dismantling the confounding factors and bring about positive change to the system. Racial Bias in Sentencing Another major reason people on death row are mostly African American men is racially based application of the death penalty. As displayed in the above analysis, several researchers have shown that if the victim is white, the defendant is likely to be given a death sentence. For example, scholarship suggests that black offenders are 3.5 times more likely receiving a death penalty compared to offenders of other races when variables like the crime type, offender history, and crime seriousness are held constant (American Civil Liberties Union, 2003; Death Penalty Information Center, 1998). Due to these differences the race of both the victim and the defendant is a significant factor influencing capital sentencing. However, the above problem is also compounded by the failure of both prosecutors and jurors to demonstrate racial diversity. Morton notes that nearly 98% of chief district attorneys in color counties adopting death penalty are white and their decisions arise from implicit bias against people of color (Death Penalty Information Center, 1998). This lack of diversity particularly among major decision-makers results in an environment within which African American men receive worse penalties than their white counterparts for equivalent offenses. Socio-Economic Factors Other contributing factors that contribute to this include socio-economic inequalities as well. Black populations are also known to be more populated in the areas of poverty and thus might face challenges of getting competent lawyers. Most defendants from these backdrops cannot hire private lawyers but instead rely on overworked and insufficiently resourced public defenders (Ghandnoosh et al., 2023). The absence of proper legal representation will still play a pivotal role and influence the cases being tried, the convictions so attained and the stringencies of the penalties meted to the African Americans. Furthermore, systems like racial profiling and unequal policing patterns affect the African American man in a negative way. Such practices raise chances of arrest and subsequent charges that may earning one a capital punishment. The elucidation of behaviors related to poverty continue to perpetuate these unfair differences since those from these groups are more likely to be punished (Ghandnoosh et al., 2023). Addressing Overrepresentation To tackle the overrepresentation of African American men on death row, several strategies can be implemented: 1. Moratorium on the Death Penalty: It was on this premise that implementing a moratorium to the death penalty would warrant an opportunity to conduct further research on its prescription, especially on racial basis. The often time suspension can help in the debate of the change of practices on sentencing and fair hearing of a (American Civil Liberties Union, 2003). 2. Diversifying Prosecutorial Offices: Expanded diversity of officers within a prosecutorial office has the potential to reduce bias in charging decisions. Prom obligating prosecutors to mirror the composition of the populations they represent may help to eliminate disparities in race (Death Penalty Information Center, 1998). 3. Reforming Jury Selection: To build a diverse jury, measures have to be taken. Jurisdictions may control peremptory challenges that exclude more people of colour from the jury pool through race, thus helping to create a diverse jury (Ghandnoosh et al., 2023). 4. Improving Legal Representation: The funding of the public defender is important for now there is the determination of standard legal representation for every defendant especially those of the minority fts. To enhance the result of the trial African Americans who are faced with capital charge should afford competent public defenders who are not compromised by poor equipment or overwhelming cases. 5. Legislative Reforms: States should explore legal reforms that would deal with racism that seems to be related to the sentencing of individuals. This also involves reconsideration of mandatory minimum sentences as well as increasing second-chance sentencing review chance for those convicted and sentenced to long sentences (Ghandnoosh et al., 2023). 6. Community Engagement: Reporting and working with communities that experience such disparities can be very useful in understanding local matters and leading reformative processes of criminal justice systems. Therefore, in the context of the present research, the indication of African American men overrepresentation in death row cannot be resolved solely by legal or criminal justice measures but calls for systemic changes in discriminated structure of salsa and economic injustice, as well as changes in mentality among legal professionals. Therefore, with the help of the indicated amendments, society can gradually improve the situation with the justice system and make it fair for all people of both colors. Reference Death Penalty Information Center. (1998, June 4). The Death Penalty in Black and White: Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Decides. Death Penalty Information Center. https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/facts-and-research/dpic-reports/in-depth/the-death-penalty-in-black-and-white-who-lives-who-dies-who-decides American Civil Liberties Union. (2003, February 26). Race and the Death Penalty. American Civil Liberties Union; ACLU. https://www.aclu.org/documents/race-and-death-penalty Ghandnoosh, N., Barry, C., & Trinka, L. (2023, December 7). One in Five: Racial Disparity in Imprisonment Causes and Remedies. The Sentencing Project. https://www.sentencingproject.org/publications/one-in-five-racial-disparity-in-imprisonment-causes-and-remedies/More Articles From Others
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