Race and the Criminal Justice System

Race and the Criminal Justice SystemRace and the criminal justice system are subject areas in which research is difficult. Research often deals with social groups that exhibit behavior that differs from the norms of the dominant group. An analysis of this behavior is then used to predict the outcome of future interaction. Research in social psychology has long been concerned with how social groups behave.The research studies examining the association between race and group differences have examined attitudes, stereotypes, and groups, such as sex, age, ethnicity, and national origin. Research has shown that blacks are stereotyped and discriminated against, while Hispanics, who are predominantly of Mexican or Latin American ancestry, are often stereotyped as less intelligent and less responsible than whites. The crime rate among Hispanics is about half that of whites. So, racial prejudice appears to be a common factor that motivates some differences in behavior among groups.Research is limited by the difficulty of studying the behavior of a specific social group because such group actions have a unique effect on the criminal justice system. Criminal activity varies greatly among various social groups and may be influenced by their responses to the environment. Some groups respond more to environmental cues, others may respond less. For example, many people of Arab descent may have been raised in a violent manner, but only a small percentage commit violent crimes. Others may be more likely to flee from strangers or be less likely to cooperate with police officers when stopped for questioning.The law enforcement perspective is that more violent individuals are more likely to commit crimes because they feel that they are entitled to use force to defend themselves. This is different from an observer's perspective, which would see an individual's reaction to his environment as the cause of his violent behavior. Because of this, the social psychologist refers to those that identify with groups as 'norms' and those that do not as 'anti-norms.' They may act differently in certain situations because they are acting according to the expected behavior of their group.Since race and the criminal justice system are both characteristics of the same group, behavioral differences between groups must be seen in terms of differences in their behavior because they are members of the same group. The researcher must therefore look at similarities in group behavior. He must be able to determine whether the behavior of the members of a group is socially acceptable and predictable.Race and the criminal justice system are interrelated because the racial background of many criminals is a problem for law enforcement officials. Most police officials report that the race of a person is a determining factor in how they conduct the investigation of a case, and this report has been corroborated by forensic scientists.Crime and the justice system research papers also have o ther important subjects, including crime and punishment, juvenile delinquency, social development, and family dynamics. The study of the social sciences is becoming increasingly important for the educational community because of its diverse nature. The field has grown so much in recent years that students may not be able to get all of the subjects they need to satisfy their bachelor's degree requirements. Therefore, researchers have looked at other fields that provide needed information, such as anthropology, sociology, and neurology.In addition, many university researchers have taken on a role in many field courses that are designed to broaden the student's knowledge base. These courses include physical and social sciences, which may be subdivided into more specialized categories. However, students must take courses that cover the fundamentals of the social sciences. College students have learned that a course in sociology, for example, is essential for them to achieve their goal o f success in the field.