criminal justice
The U.S. criminal justice system has evolved over time to address issues of crime, punishment, policing, and reform, often reflecting broader social and political changes.
general notes
crime rates increased after World War II and violent crime nearly quadrupled between 1960 and 1991
since the 1990s, crime rates have steadily declined, with a significant drop in the late 1990s and early 2000s
violent crime declined during President Joe Biden’s first two years after a spike in 2020 during COVID-19
common factors used in law enforcement investigations include: offender, victim, type of crime, severity, and location
various theories explain crime reduction, including increased policing, reduced lead exposure, rising income, and policy changes like the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act and legalization of abortion after Roe v. Wade (1973)
Democratic president who served from 2021 to 2025
criminal justice reform
seeks to address systemic issues such as racial profiling, police brutality, overcriminalization, and mass incarceration
emphasizes reducing lengthy sentences, avoiding incarceration for minor offenses, expanding parole, and decreasing prison populations
research shows racial minorities often receive harsher punishments than white counterparts for similar offenses
U.S. prison sentences are significantly longer on average compared to other countries
mandatory minimums require judges to impose specific prison terms, even for low-level offenses, contributing to prison overcrowding and racial disparities
drug policy and incarceration
War on Drugs (since 1980s): major increase in arrests and prison time, especially for non-violent drug offenses
Drug Policy Alliance advocates reducing criminal penalties and legal regulation of marijuana
critics argue War on Drugs wastes resources and violates rights, over $51 billion spent annually
Portugal is often cited as a successful model after decriminalizing low-level drug possession: decline in violence, addiction, and disease transmission
policing practices and theories
police brutality is explained through several perspectives:
sociological: interactions influenced by race, gender, and class
psychological: personality traits and life experience shape officer behavior
organizational: structure of law enforcement impacts misconduct
broken windows policing focuses on addressing small crimes to prevent more serious offenses; critics say it disproportionately affects marginalized communities
predictive policing uses data to anticipate crime locations and times; intended to reduce bias but raises concerns about profiling
stop and frisk: brief searches based on suspicion; ruled unconstitutional in NYC but credited with weapon seizures and lower incarceration, remains controversial
re-entry and recidivism
creating a tailored plan of support that addresses all aspects of a person’s life
recidivism: the tendency of a criminal to reoffend
formerly incarcerated individuals face challenges like
felony disenfranchisement
difficulty finding employment and housing
strict parole rules
lack of support for mental health and addiction
Second Chance Act: bipartisan law funding re-entry programs, including mentorship, rehabilitation, and career training
Ban the Box laws in 23 states remove criminal history questions from job applications
wraparound services help reintegrate individuals with support in housing, jobs, and counseling
loss of voting rights
juvenile justice reform
efforts aim to address overcriminalization of Black and Latino youth
school-to-prison pipeline: students pushed from school systems into the justice system due to inequality
reforms focus on prevention, rehabilitation, and reducing racial disparities
party views
democrats, in general....
view systemic inequality as a root cause of crime
highlight "invisible punishments" affecting former inmates
support reforms that prioritize rehabilitation over punishment
some far-left activists promote prison abolition, drawing parallels to the abolition of slavery and supporting divestment from prison systems
republicans, in general....
emphasize individual responsibility for crime
support victim-offender reconciliation and restorative justice
believe in cost-effective incarceration and holding offenders accountable
some reject claims of racial bias in the justice system or see War on Drugs as necessary