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Racial Inequality in the Criminal Justice System: A Sociological Analysis Essay

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Introduction

The racial issue is one of the most critical social aspects of the country’s population. It is especially acute in the area of the criminal justice system, where inequality is unacceptable. The background information on the chosen topic includes the fact that statistics indicate an uneven distribution of arrests among the population.

It can be attributed to the uneven attitude of police representatives toward different racial categories within the population. Inequality leads to the display of racial problems, inequality, and the spread of unfair sentiments among the people. The purpose of this work is to analyze the data related to this problem, consider why it is a sociological issue, and clarify the research question.

Discussion

Discussing why this topic is sociological reveals several key aspects. First, it is worth noting that social problems affect individuals and necessitate collective interventions (Harris, 2020). Therefore, to solve such a problem, it is necessary to use significant human and time resources. Thus, the racial issue in the criminal justice system requires considerable time and the participation of many people to resolve. Moreover, inequality encompasses the limited access of one group of people or an individual to social benefits due to prejudice and unfair treatment (Bempah & Gabbidon, 2020).

In the aspect of the criminal justice system, it articulates specific actions that indicate unfair treatment. Notably, it is worth mentioning that inequality in the criminal justice system presents a significant problem, as it can lead to severe negative consequences. The issue includes evidence that people of color are more likely to deal with police officers (Avery & Cooper, 2020).

For example, there are more frequent traffic stops by patrol police, document checks, searches of vehicles or personal belongings, or interviews. It articulates unacceptable behavior since people of color feel more threatened and under moral and psychological pressure (Conley, 2021). Thus, the topic of race and our criminal justice system articulates a significant social problem that needs to be eliminated. If this issue is ignored, the population’s mood may worsen, and discontent will increase, leading to public unrest and protests.

Furthermore, for an effective analysis of this issue, it is necessary to formulate my topic as a research question. Given this problem, one needs to find a solution in terms of reducing the display of racial prejudice and inequality in the criminal justice system to the people. Therefore, the research question will be to determine the method for effectively reducing the disparity between people of color and the police.

It may involve systems of punishment, motivation, or information about the unacceptability of displaying any factors of inequality or discrimination. One needs to conduct an information campaign, through which the importance of this problem and its solutions would become apparent (Walker, 2020). One must understand that one cannot conduct searches, traffic stops, or interrogations based on race or skin color for no reason.

Conclusion

To conclude, it is worth noting that the social problem, which includes the racial issue in the aspect of the criminal judicial system, is essential. It is necessary to conduct information campaigns and develop methods for addressing this issue. These may include systems of punishment or incentives to reduce the level of demonstration of inequality or discrimination in the criminal justice system. In addition, the problem is based on the fact that people of color are more likely to deal with the police than other people.

References

Avery, J., & Cooper, J. (2020). Bias in the law: A definitive look at racial prejudice in the U.S. Criminal justice system. Rowman & Littlefield.

Bempah, A. O., & Gabbidon, S. (2020). Race, ethnicity, crime, and justice: An international dilemma. (2nd ed.). Routledge.

Conley, D. (2021). You may ask yourself: An introduction to thinking like a sociologist. (7th ed.). New York: W. W. Norton.

Harris, D. (2020). Race and policing in modern America. ABDO.

Walker, H. L. (2020). Mobilized by injustice: Criminal justice contact, political participation, and race. Oxford University Press.

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IvyPanda. (2025, December 9). Racial Inequality in the Criminal Justice System: A Sociological Analysis. https://ivypanda.com/essays/racial-inequality-in-the-criminal-justice-system-a-sociological-analysis/

Work Cited

"Racial Inequality in the Criminal Justice System: A Sociological Analysis." IvyPanda, 9 Dec. 2025, ivypanda.com/essays/racial-inequality-in-the-criminal-justice-system-a-sociological-analysis/.

References

IvyPanda. (2025) 'Racial Inequality in the Criminal Justice System: A Sociological Analysis'. 9 December.

References

IvyPanda. 2025. "Racial Inequality in the Criminal Justice System: A Sociological Analysis." December 9, 2025. https://ivypanda.com/essays/racial-inequality-in-the-criminal-justice-system-a-sociological-analysis/.

1. IvyPanda. "Racial Inequality in the Criminal Justice System: A Sociological Analysis." December 9, 2025. https://ivypanda.com/essays/racial-inequality-in-the-criminal-justice-system-a-sociological-analysis/.


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IvyPanda. "Racial Inequality in the Criminal Justice System: A Sociological Analysis." December 9, 2025. https://ivypanda.com/essays/racial-inequality-in-the-criminal-justice-system-a-sociological-analysis/.

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