What JUSTICE mean to you
What does JUSTICE mean to you? What has shaped your ideas of justice? Do you think our criminal justice system is "just"? If so, why? If not, why not?
Sample Solution
Justice means fairness and equity to me. It means that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect, and that everyone should have the same opportunities in life. My ideas of justice have been shaped by my personal experiences, my education, and my exposure to different cultures and perspectives.
I believe that our criminal justice system is not just. There are a number of reasons for this, including:
- Mass incarceration: The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world. This is due in part to the war on drugs, which disproportionately targets Black and brown communities.
Full Answer Section
- Racial bias: Racial bias is present throughout the criminal justice system, from policing to sentencing. This means that people of color are more likely to be arrested, charged, convicted, and sentenced to prison than white people for the same crimes.
- Wealth inequality: People with money are able to afford better legal representation and are more likely to be granted bail. This means that they are less likely to be convicted and sentenced to prison than people who are poor.
- Reducing mass incarceration: We need to decriminalize non-violent drug offenses and reduce the number of people who are sentenced to prison.
- Addressing racial bias: We need to train law enforcement officers on racial bias and implement policies and procedures to reduce racial disparities in the criminal justice system.
- Reducing wealth inequality: We need to provide public defenders with more resources and make bail more affordable.