Racial Bias and Wrongful Convictions in the US Justice System
The Effects of Race on Wrongful Convictions
Black suspects are rarely given the benefit of the doubt by juries or judges, and they are often assumed to be criminals or to possess criminal tendencies. This bias is clearly seen in the disparity in sentences between a Black man and a White man who committed the same crime. Black men usually receive the maximum possible sentence, while White men receive minor sentencing.
Data shows that Black men can be up to 22 times more likely to receive the death penalty than a White man, regardless of culpability. Furthermore, in cases where eyewitness testimony is required, Black people are at a disadvantage if the witness is White because, biologically, we pay less attention to faces of other races (known as the cross-race effect).
Analysis of “Murder on a Sunday Morning”
The thing that disturbed me the most is how the detectives fabricated an entire statement and then denied everything. It is truly sad how law enforcement lies in order to convict an innocent person, especially since they are the ones who are supposed to help people.
Key Issues Highlighted
- Unreliability of eyewitness accounts: It is incredible the amount of people who are sent to prison or given the death penalty based on faulty eyewitness identification.
- False confessions.
- Race and wrongful convictions.
Linking the Documentary to Ritzer’s Article
Ritzer’s article shows that in 40% of retroactively exonerated cases, the evidence was tampered with before the trials. As we see in the documentary, if law enforcement officers or the prosecutor are prejudiced or racist, that bias may show in the way the suspect is treated or judged.
Also, institutions and the government often protect these individuals who fabricate or tamper with evidence, allowing them to feel emboldened to carry on with the tampering without fear of repercussions.
Whiteness as “The Norm” in US Society
The US is still a predominantly White country, although recent population trends point to a shift in balance. As a result, society has historically been geared toward White people. *White culture* dominates the landscape, and this is reflected in movies, celebrities, and even trivial things like the color of Band-Aids. Whiteness is also perceived as more honest and trustworthy, and the image of a quintessential American is often a White, middle-aged man.
Understanding White Privilege
White privilege is the societal privilege that benefits people whom society identifies as White in some countries, beyond what is commonly experienced by non-White people under the same social, political, or economic circumstances.
White Privilege and the Criminal Justice System
White collar criminals are usually White and older, and they often receive a free pass on their crimes. Their sentences tend to be light, and they have access to the best lawyers available. Meanwhile, suspects of color have difficulty finding an attorney who will be able to represent them to the best of their abilities. Also, in the court of public opinion, White suspects are usually given the benefit of the doubt—a luxury that is not afforded to Black people, regardless of their level of fame.
White Privilege in Social and Economic Areas
White privilege is very much present in the job market; employers usually skew toward “White-sounding” names over ethnic ones. White privilege is also seen in interactions with store employees; White patrons are usually left alone and allowed to browse, while Black patrons are often followed or wrongly accused of stealing. Furthermore, Black people are sometimes shunned from services such as Uber and AirBnB, with drivers or hosts discriminating against them for being Black—something that rarely, if ever, happens to White people.