crime and deviance/ethnicity and crime detailed notes simplified

Labeling, stereotypes and racism in the Criminal justice system

Many sociologists have argued that the criminal statistic in general, and on ethnicity in general are socially constructed.

·         They are not valid/true record of ethnicity in particular but are created as a result of discrimination towards Blacks/Asians by the police/criminal justice agencies. This creates a misleading impression that blacks/Asians are more likely to offend compared to Whites.

Also, it makes us question how police goes about their work and what they look out for “potential criminals”.

·         Is this guided by their ideas over who the “trouble makers” or the criminals are, like the stereotype police officers give to young black/Asian men these stereotypes which is the reason why they are heavier policing and more likely to be stopped/searched than white people.

·         Racism and racist stereotypes in the police culture might account…