Racial equity in criminal justice requires institutional redesign, not just attitude change

Evidence

In chapter 10, Godsil discusses the interventions that may make a difference in decreasing racial disparities in the law—and what conditions must be present for these interventions to work. Drawing on her experience as part of a consortium that partners with criminal justice actors, including defense attorneys, prosecutors, and judges, to prevent unequal treatment of defendants, Godsil emphasizes both structural forces (stemming from the United States’ history of racism) and entrenched prejudicial associations, which may or may not be consciously held. Godsil concludes that moving toward racially equitable outcomes within the CJS requires that society’s stereotypes are prevented from translating into decisions and behavior—and this is only possible if institutions develop new systems and processes. — Joseph Avery, Jim Sidanius, Joel Cooper, Gregory Davis, Amanda N., Bias in the Law, 37 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Reducing racial inequity in courts requires institutional systems, not just attitude change. — Joseph Avery, Jim Sidanius, Joel Cooper, Gregory Davis, Amanda N., Bias in the Law: A Definitive Look at…, 37; Implicit bias alone insufficiently explains racial inequity in criminal justice outcomes — Joseph Avery, Jim Sidanius, Joel Cooper, Gregory Davis, Amanda N., Bias in the Law: A Definitive Look at…, 1356; Racial inequity in criminal justice involves three distinct covert mechanisms, not bias alone — Joseph Avery, Jim Sidanius, Joel Cooper, Gregory Davis, Amanda N., Bias in the Law: A Definitive Look at…, 1356 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Reducing racial inequity in courts requires institutional systems, not just attitude change. #corroborates (0.96) — Joseph Avery, Jim Sidanius, Joel Cooper, Gregory Davis, Amanda N., Bias in the Law, 37