The Future of Equity in the Justice System

• In Event: Presidential Panel: The Future of Crime Policy: Where Might the Evidence Take Us?

Abstract

Racial and ethnic disparities have been documented in each stage of the justice system and therefore have long characterized America's prison populations. While various marginalized groups have endured similarly disparate outcomes, Black Americans have borne the brunt of carceral control in the U.S. According to Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) data, overall Black imprisonment rates have been roughly six to eight times the rates of White Americans over the past 40 years. Despite encouraging declines in the racial gap in corrections since the mid-2000s, the problem of Black imprisonment—and vulnerability to the justice system—remains a challenge. This presentation discusses ways that researchers can uncover and guide potential policy measures for reducing Black and other racial and ethnic disparities in incarceration.

Authors

• Thaddeus Johnson, Georgia State University

• William Sabol, Georgia State University