User:Tjuadiv2023/Race in the United States criminal justice system

Criminal Sentencing and Incarceration of Blacks in the US

As of October 2023, 38.6% of individuals in the United States' prisons are black, even though they represent only 13.6% of the total population, according to the 2020 Census. This significant overrepresentation in the prison system has raised questions about systemic issues within the US criminal justice system. Various studies have examined differences in sentencing for crimes committed by individuals of different races.

One such study, conducted by Peter Lehmann and published in 2023, analyzed felony sentences across races, genders, and age groups. Lehmann examined data from noncapital felony cases in Florida circuit courts over a 12-year period. His research revealed that young black males were disproportionately subject to harsh sentencing. These findings suggest a racial disparity in the criminal justice system, which is indicative of systemic bias.

Another study titled "The Color of Mass Incarceration," conducted by Ronnie B. Tucker and published in 2016, found that in 2010, for every white woman incarcerated, three Black women were also imprisoned. This data further underscores racial disparities in the US criminal justice system. Moreover, Studies examining federal sentencing data over the past two decades have concluded that men tend to receive more severe criminal sentences compared to women. Notably, these studies have also revealed that with black men receive the most severe sentences, while white women consistently receive the most lenient sentences. Correspondingly, minority women, particularly those of Black and Hispanic backgrounds, experience the harshest outcomes of the female identifying demographic. These findings further underscore the presence of racial disparities within the US criminal justice system, indicating a systemic issue with intersectional consequences.

To illustrate the real-world impact of these disparities, consider the case of Lawrence Stephen and Paul Michael Melendres, who committed a robbery in York County, Virginia in February 2020. Despite facing identical charges, Stephen, an 18-year-old black male, was sentenced to 1,823 years in prison, while Melendres, his 29-year-old white co-worker, received a 10-year sentence. This stark contrast in their sentences aligns with Lehmann's research, highlighting the presence of implicit biases in the criminal justice system.