Introduction
In the 1980s-1990s, the United States witnessed the crack cocaine epidemic. At that time, people excessively used cocaine, which led to increased crime rates. Since the late 20th-century society was not free from cultural and racial prejudice, representatives of particular minority groups or ethnicities felt higher pressure on the criminal justice system. There are many examples of that situation, but Sharanda Jones’s case is the most prominent one. Even though it was her first criminal offense, the woman was sentenced to life imprisonment for drug conspiracy. It happened because the US criminal justice system is affected by a lack of cultural competencies and diversity.
Effect on Policing
A lack of cultural competency can significantly affect policing and the ways how it is implemented. Firstly, the phenomenon of over-policing some races and ethnicities is present because Blacks and Latinos are more typical arrestees. Secondly, police militarization refers to the fact that officers are equipped as soldiers, which provides them with more power and freedom of action. This fact is not beneficial for society because such officers tend to make biased decisions. Consequently, individuals suffer because their safety and liberty are endangered. Sharanda Jones, an Afro-American woman, witnessed this attitude because her skin color was one of the reasons for detention and further arrest.
Furthermore, a lack of cultural competency among officers leads to the fact that policing is often associated with diversity issues. It means that representatives of various minority groups experience an adverse attitude based on their peculiarities. According to Nelson (2016), it is a typical case that police officers consider mentally ill individuals crazy and dangerous. This stereotype makes them resort to arms even when there is no need for it. In addition to that, LGBTQ+ people are also subject to such issues. It relates to the fact that such individuals tend to suffer from verbal harassment, physical assault, persistent misunderstanding, and others (Fusion 2017). Consequently, the practice of policing should welcome cultural diversity and differences.
Cultural Bias in Courts
When it comes to court decisions, they are not free from a cultural bias, and Jones’s case proves it. According to the Sentencing Project (2018), African Americans constitute more than half of drug prisoners in the USA. Representatives of this minority group are also more likely to be denied bail (Sentencing Project, 2018). Furthermore, socioeconomic status is significant because poor people cannot afford decent lawyers, which increases their opportunity of being found guilty. This fact explains that Jones did not have many chances to escape punishment after she was arrested even though prosecutors failed to present evidence that she bought, sold, or possessed cocaine (Bruer 2016).
A cultural bias results in the fact that African Americans are more subject to death-penalty sentencing, which is a manifestation of racism. It is explained by the fact that courts do not have sufficient diversity to avoid cultural prejudice in their decisions. As for LGBTQ+ individuals, their state is not better in the criminal justice system. Christ (2016) states that such people are disproportionately likely to be imprisoned and mistreated in American prisons and jails. However, a different situation is found when it comes to mentally ill people. It relates to the fact that a mental disability can make the court mitigate or cancel punishment, which makes individuals seek this condition.
Cultural Bias and Correction
Significant issues arise when it comes to analyzing female prisons. As they are usually placed in remote and isolated geographic areas, it is difficult for people to visit their imprisoned relatives often. That is why these facilities do not have adequate medical services to treat individuals with health issues. For example, Jones’s mother, who has quadriplegia, did not obtain the necessary treatment over its imprisonment term (Bruer 2016). Furthermore, both private state prisons feature a lack of oversight, meaning that the incarcerated population was free to set their own rules in interpersonal relationships. That is why the following slide will comment on what specific threats women can witness when they are serving their sentence in female prisons.
Firstly, prisoners by themselves are a source of danger because some of them are cruel. This issue becomes even more topical when it comes to placing transgender people in female jails. These individuals are naturally more powerful, which exposes other prisoners to the potential threat. Secondly, male correction officers represent danger in female prisons because they can promote harassment and coercion toward inmates (Library Law). Consequently, women are subject to sexually transmitted diseases and other illnesses. Finally, women do not obtain adequate gender-specific treatment in prisons. According to the Library Law, pregnancy, reproductive health, and mental disabilities are poorly addressed in female jails, which exposes prisoners to excessive pain and suffering.
What if Sharanda Jones Had Been White?
If Sharanda Jones had been white, her cause might have significantly been different. Firstly, one can conclude that she might not have been arrested because white women do not cause suspicion among culturally biased individuals. Secondly, If Jones had finally come before the court, she could have expected a fair trial. It means that she would not have been sentenced to life imprisonment for a drug conspiracy offense without a previous criminal history. Finally, it is impossible to mention that Jones would have experienced different imprisonment conditions if she had not been black-skinned. It is so because women are subject to significant pain and suffering in female prisons irrespective of their race or ethnicity.
Diversity of Society
The US society is heterogeneous since it includes representatives of various genders, races, and ethnicities. According to the United States Census Bureau (2019), the current population is more than 328 million people. It is clear that Whites represent the most significant part of the US population. However, minority groups also form an essential part of the nation. Thus, the United States Census Bureau (2019) stipulates that 13.4% of the population are African Americans, while Hispanics or Latinos represent 18.5%. At the same time, female individuals constitute 50.8% of the US population. These figures indicate that the nation should draw significant attention to diversity issues regarding all live spheres, including the criminal justice system.
Diversity in Criminal Justice
The information above demonstrates that the US criminal justice system needs diversity. Since criminal justice officers and officials deal with representatives of various genders, races, and ethnicities, the system’s composition should reflect this diversity. It refers to the importance of mirroring society because this phenomenon will represent an essential step toward the elimination of a cultural bias from criminal justice. If it happens, people will not be sentenced to long prison terms because of their skin color. Furthermore, this diversity will result in the fact that incarcerated people will not be subject to cruel attitudes while in prisons. In conclusion, it is necessary to make significant efforts to bring cultural differences and diversity into the criminal justice system.
References
Bruer, Wesley. 2016. “From a Life Sentence to Clemency from Obama.” CNN Politics.
Christ, Caroline. 2016. “LGBT Individuals More Likely to Be Incarcerated.” Reuters.
Fusion. 2017. “Police Brutality and Why It Is an LGBTQ issue.” Web.
Law Library. “Prisons: Prisons for Women.” 2020.
Nelson, Camille A. 2016. “Frontlines: Policing at the Nexus of Race and Mental Health.” Fordham Urban Law Journal 43 (3): 615-684.
Sentencing Project. 2018. “Report to the United Nations on Racial Disparities in the US Criminal Justice System.”
United States Census Bureau. 2019. “Quick Facts.” 2020.