Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 2 of 2
Full-Text Articles in Law
Cultural Convergence: Interest Convergence Theory Meets The Cultural Defense?, Cynthia Lee
Cultural Convergence: Interest Convergence Theory Meets The Cultural Defense?, Cynthia Lee
GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works
Much has been written about the so-called cultural defense or, more accurately, the proffer of cultural evidence by a criminal defendant seeking to mitigate a charge or sentence. Many scholars support the admission of cultural evidence, but argue it should be limited to cases where such evidence is used to negate the mens rea element of the charged offense. Others feel that the admission of cultural evidence violates the principle of equal protection and favors immigrant and minority defendants over American defendants, and therefore the practice should be sharply circumscribed. Recently, a few legal scholars have issued calls for recognition …
'But I Thought He Had A Gun' - Race And Police Use Of Deadly Force, Cynthia Lee
'But I Thought He Had A Gun' - Race And Police Use Of Deadly Force, Cynthia Lee
GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works
It is undisputed that Blacks are disproportionately represented among the victims of police shootings. In a comprehensive review of the literature on police use of deadly force, James Fyfe reports that every study that has examined this issue [has] found that blacks are represented disproportionately among those at the wrong end of police guns. Although Blacks represent approximately 13 percent of the population in the United States, in parts of the country they constitute 60 to 85 percent of the victims of police shootings. On average, Blacks are more than six times as likely as Whites to be shot by …