Research on Jury Bias

The main issue in the article is racial discrimination in providing judgments on cases between the blacks and their white counterparts. The racial discrimination is coupled with racial stigmatization where the blacks are regarded to be violent and gangsters. The judge uses this to humanize the killer while applying stigmatization to dehumanize the African-American girl.

Besiki Kutaeladze, Vanessa Lynn, & Edward Liang (2012), Do Race and Ethnicity Matter in Prosecution? A Review of Emperical Studies. Retrieved from Vera Institute of Justice website: http://www.vera.org/sites/default/files/resources/downloads/race-and-ethnicity-in-prosecution-first-edition.pdf

You brought up how jurors are more likely to find a defendant guilty when the defendant is a different race, and the victim is the same race as the juror, which creates a problem if race is being viewed as a primary factor in the case. Unfortunately, as we know, racial disparities are apparent throughout every phase of our justice system. For example, black individuals are three times as likely to have their cars searched by the police compared to their white counterparts, in addition to being more likely to be pulled over (Racial disparities, 2014). On a larger scale, racial disparities in sentencing decisions are also imposed much more harshly for black individuals than white individuals in the United States. Furthermore, black males in the

The play Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose demonstrates how biases can affect jury duty. A bias is a prejudice in favor of a particular group, person, or thing resulting in unfairness. This play gives readers an example of how biases influence the thoughts of many. Each juror is biased in their own way, whether it is race, age, or gender. These bias’ prevent people from seeing the truth to a side of a story. The twelve jurors must determine the fate of the eighteen year old boy without leading their biases in different interpretations of the evidence. Biased stereotypes tend to combine with the tendency to repent information proving evidence. More times than not the ones who are biased do not realize it. They proceed to input their conscience

Race is one of the most controversial topics when speaking of bias, and still to this day race is occasionally believed to sway the judicial system’s decisions. A recent statistic proved that less than 5 years ago in North Carolina more than 52% of potential black jurors were cut, or peremptory challenged, meaning they removed from a case without reason (S.M.). Not only do jurors experience discrimination but suspects on trial have also suffered for decades. Evidence shows judges sentence black convicts to 20%

Victim impact statements (VIS) are written or oral statements that are given by crime victims, or their family members, during the sentencing phase of a criminal trial. The statements provide information about the impact of the crime on the victim, their family, and the community. Victim impact statements have been developed as a way to give victims a voice in the criminal justice system and to ensure that their experiences and perspectives are considered in sentencing decisions. Supporters argue that victim impact statements help to provide a more complete picture of the impact of the crime and can help to hold offenders accountable for their actions and play a crucial role in criminal proceedings, allowing victims and their families to express

Being sent to Death Row is the highest prosecution a criminal could be sentenced to and the process when determining of someone deserves a death sentence is a very bias decision. Since 1977 when capital punishment was restored there has been about 20,600 homicides and only about .7 death sentences for every 100 homicides has been given in the Cook county. The decision to impose a death sentence is not only based on the crime done but also the race of the victim. Attorneys at a state level has a less formal guide when giving death sentences. It is commonly seen how race plays a major role in the justice system. As apart of attorney protocol of determining if the death sentence is given it is seen black males will be given a higher sentence versus a white male even if the crimes where similar. In this article “Disparities on Death Row” published in Grumman points out the unjustness in the justice system. Through ethos, pathos, and logos Cornelia Grumman effectively persuades her audience to spread the issues of capital punishment assignment.

They would determine guilt or innocence based on the details. A person of the same racial profile may be subject to feelings the feelings of sorry for the person based on their lifestyle or childhood issues that they may feel has a bearing on their criminal behavior. Jury nullification is the process that allows individuals to be acquitted based on evidence, guilt or innocence not for feelings, but if a crime exists does it deserves punishment.

In order to have a well-rounded mindsight, one must possess the three capabilities of openness, observation, and objectivity. These three characteristics make up the tripod that supports an effective and efficient mindsight, thus leading to a better understanding of oneself (Siegel, 2010, p. 48). Openness refers to recognizing antagonistic thoughts and negating their effect; observation is the ability of self-recognition even in times of distraction; lastly, objectivity is the ability to not let a certain feeling preoccupy or consume our thoughts. In the past, I have struggled with these three characteristics that have prevented me from developing a healthy mindsight. Throughout high school, I battled with extreme self-confidence issues, and found it difficult especially to be open and objective with myself. Consumed by these unhealthy thoughts, I would allow my own restrictive judgements of myself to devour my life and dominate every aspect of it. Unbeknownst to me, I was enabling these judgements to control my life, rather than realizing that I was only battling myself. As I grew older, I came to realize that learning to be objective and dismissive to unwanted and detrimental thoughts was the key to overcoming my issues.

As stated in the beginning of this paper, I have always been aware of the “favoritism” in the justice system but this has help me develop a more logical understanding of it. I have also come to realize that my brother was apart of that favoritism because he is white. While writing this paper, I’ve experienced many emotions. Those emotions ranged from sadness to confusion to anger.

“whole” view of themselves (Butman, Jones, 2011, 141). On the contrary, individuals who do not

The US courts were put in place to examine a case and make a legal decision that will settle the dispute. These courts have flaws that affect the outcome of justice being served and falsely incriminate the innocent. Courts utilize a jury to see the different perspectives throughout the trial and determine a verdict, while the judge creates a sentence appropriate to the offense. The jurors are required to come to a non-bias decision but that not always the situation. Decisions are sometimes made on the race, religion, ethnicity and/or sexual orientation of the defendant, no matter their innocence. In research done in “What It’s Like to Be Black in the Criminal Justice System”, Andrew

Several of the jurors are shown to have serious personal biases that interfere with their ability to objectively look at the evidence of the case. The most prominent example is Juror no. 10, a garage owner, who from the very beginning is shown to be bigoted towards people from the slums. One of his first lines, in response to Juror

The first approach to self-schema development we will evaluate is Self-Discrepancy Theory (SDT) (Higgins, 1987). In this theory self-schemas develop to drive the actual self (who somebody is now) towards the ideal self (who somebody wants to be) and the ought self (who somebody should be according to others). Reflected appraisals build a network of the actual self, and this knowledge is used to move towards the ideal and ought selves. Discrepancies between actual and ideal result in dejection, and discrepancies between actual and ought result in agitation (Higgins, Bond, Klein, &

Criminal punishments and victimization cause people to become more helpless after the matter, and they are often unable to leave their past behind them. Unfortunately, there is a pattern shown that often times race, the area in which a person lives, and social status of a criminal and the victim are taken into consideration when deciding on punishment for a crime. This can lead to discrimination playing a role in the decision making which is unfair. African Americans and Hispanics are more likely to be searched, questioned, or apprehended by a law enforcement officer than whites. Criminal and victims both will have many obstacles that they may face and have to overcome. These obstacles involve things that involve physical and emotional pain, mental difficulties, and even financial problems; however, different situations will affect each individual in various