Mock trial – America on trial

What steps have been taken to reduce racial disparities in the criminal justice system?

Good morning everyone.Thank you for your attention to this matter. I am here in defense of The united states of America. As a defense attorney, I will use my knowledge of the issue and tackle it. Today, we are on trial because we have been accused of not expressing enough concern for the mass incarceration of African American folk. We believe that the evidence we will present clearly supports our innocence. As we know, things are different from how they were over 10 decades ago. We have been through many changes. How could we be accused of mass incarceration if slavery isn’tisn´t legal? And the Jim Crowcrow era is far gone? According to a quote from Michelle Alexander in the New Jim Crow article, it states ¨ it is no longer socially permissible to use race, explicitly, as a justification for discrimination, exclusion, and social contempt.¨ Discrimination and things alike are no longer considered the ¨norm¨ This supports my claim by explaining what isn’t permitted anymore under United States law. Another possible counterclaim to the argument is, that the United States criminal justice system made progress. This has been made in recent years to address systemic issues and protect the rights of individuals. For example, there have been numerous efforts to reduce racial disparities in the criminal justice system, such as implementing implicit bias training for law enforcement officers and adopting more equitable sentencing practices.

Additionally, the passage of the First Step Act in 2018 aimed to reduce harsh mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenses and increase opportunities for rehabilitation. Furthermore, the United States has robust legal protections for individual rights, such as the right to due process, the right to an attorney, and the right to a fair and impartial trial. For example, The use of body cameras: Many police departments across the country have implemented the use of body cameras to increase accountability and transparency in interactions with civilians. Another example is there is sentencing reform: In recent years, there has been a push to reduce mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenses and to offer alternatives to incarceration, such as drug courts and community service. The last example is increased diversity in law enforcement: Police departments have made efforts to increase diversity in their ranks, recognizing that a more diverse force can lead to better relationships with the communities they serve. I have personally seen our jails and prisons and would agree they are diverse.