Bureau of Justice Statistics
The system of justice focuses on preventing crimes and capturing the culprits. That is the key duty assigned to that body. However, does anyone consider or wonder what led to those crimes being committed? It could have been poverty, maybe greed or sometimes it could be the fault of the system. Do you think the risk is worth or is the reward really worth risking the repercussions? Influence and power are deeply rooted in the Justice System (Ainsworth, 2017). There are many questions surrounding actions taken against the offenders. Are they caught and processed with the same demeanor? Are they served the same punishment? It is only right if the justice system could be impartial to all offenders despite their social position, color, race, job, or salary. The overall and most common form of punishment is incarceration. This happens in every state with a difference in adjustment duration per each crime. Therefore, making this the deterrent against any form of crime.
In 2017, a report was released by the Bureau of Justice Statistics describing the conditions of the prisons around the states. Stating that the general population comprised of 33% whites and 42% black prisoners. According to the data, there was only a 9% difference between black and white prisoners. However making reference to the United States Bureau, in 2017, the number of white offenders arrested rested at seven million against the black offenders which were three million. Regardless of the double the arrest made, the irony is the actual incarceration rate of inmates is led by the black prisoners by 9%. As pointed out above, the highest number of arrests made involved white offenders, leading by double the tally compared to the black offenders (Ainsworth, 2017). However, when you visit the prison, it is a different situation. The black inmates in incarceration lead by 9% compared to white inmates.
Most of this run down to how much do you have? Can you buy your way out of punishment? In another census conducted in 2017, a black male in America makes an annual average income of twenty thousand dollars. While a white male makes around thirty-five thousand dollars annually. This implies that due to their higher-income rate, they are at a better position of affording a better lawyer or even manage to pay the fines thus avoiding a jail term. Basically, people are not awarded equal opportunities in this justice system. Individuals with a higher income are likely to afford better lawyers who can argue their case and keep them out of prison. This should be considered an extremely flawed idea since it implies criminals can have their punishments lightened with money. You will realize that this doesn’t lie only with the American justice system but most of the Justice systems around the world if one cares to research. We also find incidences whereby individuals escapee incarceration due to their careers like acting, soccer football. Which makes one wonder is really justice in the American justice system? Are all people offered the same opportunities since Justice should be true, free, and fair to all?