John Gramlich’s article explores the public perception of the US criminal correction system based on a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center. The article highlights significant differences in opinion as to how long convicted criminal offenders should remain in prison (Gramlich). Specifically, Gramlich finds that the respondent’s party affiliation, race, ethnicity, and ideology determined their perception of the optimal duration of incarceration. Nearly 40% of the black population indicated that inmates stay for too long in prison, while only 36% of the white respondents viewed the duration as too short (Gramlich). These differences underscore the perception of bias in applying justice in the US.
In my opinion, the criminal justice system has disproportionately affected the underprivileged members of American society. In most cases, lack of economic opportunity leads most racially marginalized groups into crime, resulting in overrepresentation in the prison system. However, while the underprivileged people feel unfairly targeted by the system, racial groups with superior economic power perceive the system as not tough enough on offenders. Nonetheless, policymakers must maintain an optimal balance between the two extremes to create a just society. On the one hand, convicted criminals must serve adequate time in prison. On the other hand, the administration of justice should not favor any individual or racial group. Even so, society must address the underlying causes of criminal predisposition among some ethnic and racial groups.
Gramlich’s article opens a critical debate on the perceptions of the US criminal justice system. It highlights the disparities in the perception of fairness of the criminal correctional system based on the respondent’s socioeconomic background. Therefore, policymakers must address the fundamental factors fueling the high rates of criminal convictions in some communities. However, any convicted criminal should serve sufficient time as the jury might decide to guard against anarchy.
Work Cited
Gramlich, John. “U.S. Public Divided over whether People Convicted of Crimes Spend too much or too Little Time in Prison.” Pew Research Center, Web.