The Prison System: Unequal Justice (PDF)

Unlike in the movies, the pursuit of justice has real consequences for real people. Sometimes the wrong people are arrested while criminals go free. In court trials, the innocent are sometimes wrongfully convicted or held responsible for a crime they didn't commit. Other times, people who actually are guilty of a crime are released or found not guilty. Some convicts may receive far more severe punishments than others who committed the same crime. All of these are examples of inequities in the justice system.Unequal Justice is a comprehensive look at how the legal system can go wrong. And that unfair treatment often has roots in attitudes toward poverty, education, and race. Officials sworn to enforce the law, deliver justice, and carry out rehabilitation—such as police officers, lawyers and judges, and correctional officers— are all too human. They can bring to their roles the same prejudices as any of us.PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Each title in this series contains a foreword from the Associate Dean of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, color photos throughout, charts, and back matter that includes an index and further resource lists of books and Internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series, encouraging library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content-rich nonfiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers can reference back to the definitions—building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Text-Dependent Questions are placed at the end of each chapter. They challenge the reader's comprehension of the chapter they have just read, while sending the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects are provided at the end of each chapter as well and provide readers with suggestions for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. Educational Videos provide links via QR codes to online video content that gives a multimedia dimension to the topics. And a Series Glossary of Key Terms is included in the back matter containing terminology used throughout the series. Words found here broaden the reader's knowledge and understanding of terms used in this field.