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Full-Text Articles in Law and Race
Debiasing Criminal Justice, Sandra Guerra Thompson, Nicole Bremner Cásarez
Debiasing Criminal Justice, Sandra Guerra Thompson, Nicole Bremner Cásarez
William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal
The killing of George Floyd by police officers in Minnesota inspired a summer of protests in 2020, followed by a call for racial reckoning and a professed commitment to reform criminal justice. Many have condemned the “systemic racism” reflected in countless demographic measures. From killings of unarmed men by the police at the front end of the criminal justice system to incarceration rates at the back end, the statistics show stark disparities along racial lines. These disparities are held up as evidence of racial bias in the system.
Statements about racial bias may be intended as an indictment of a …
Race-Based Remedies In Criminal Law, Ion Meyn
Race-Based Remedies In Criminal Law, Ion Meyn
William & Mary Law Review
This Article evaluates the constitutional feasibility of using race-based remedies to address racial disparities in the criminal system. Compared to white communities, communities of color are over-policed and over-incarcerated. Criminal system stakeholders recognize that these conditions undermine perceptions of legitimacy critical to ensuring public safety. As jurisdictions assiduously attempt race-neutral fixes, they also acknowledge the shortcomings of such interventions. Nevertheless, jurisdictions dismiss the feasibility of deploying more effective race-conscious strategies due to the shadow of a constitutional challenge. The apprehension is understandable. Debates around affirmative action in higher education and government contracting reveal fierce hostility toward race-based remedies.
This Article, …