Law and racial inequality

Type :

Term papers

Pages :

4 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

09/03/2009

Category :

Law & contracts

Sub category :

Civil law

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Summary :

Introduction
The legacy of racism
Imposing death penalty
The case of Terry vs Ohio
What makes a person a threatening?
Problem with racism in the law
The racist perceptions of drug use
GI Bill's benefits to all soldiers
Conclusion

Abstract

Since the early 20th century, minorities have been striving for equality in the United States. Much progress has since been made in the form of anti-discrimination laws and desegregation, but while many advances have been made in the civil rights movement, inequality has not been escaped. Minorities are still fighting inequality while institutional racism battles against them. Currently, the legacy of racism is preserved in laws, rules, and governmental practices. The way that the death penalty is administered in capital cases, search and seizure procedures, minimum sentencing policies and lack of protection against discrimination are all ways that the government reinforces racism in American society.

The legacy of racism is apparent in the way that the death penalty is administered. Studies have shown that prosecutors will seek the death penalty more often and juries will impose the penalty more often if the victim of the crime is white, as opposed to black. Jeffrey Abramson, We the Jury 234. The race of the defendant is not nearly as important and in fact, there are more white people on death row than there are black people. Id, at 213.