Inequality in the Justice System

7th Grade

Mr. Montag

INTRODUCTION

Can it really be true that most people in jail are legally innocent? How much of mass incarceration is a result of the profit motives of private prisons? Nearly 1/100 adults in the United States are in prison. The United States has nearly 2 million people in prison accounting for approximately ⅕ of the world’s imprisoned population.

Inequality in the justice system in the United States refers to the uneven application of the law, the unequal treatment of certain groups of people, and the structural biases that exist within the criminal justice system. Bias can be defined as prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.

There are several factors that contribute to the inequality in the justice system, including:

Racial and Ethnic Bias: Studies have shown that Black, Latino, and Indigenous people are disproportionately [having or showing a difference that is not fair] arrested, charged, and sentenced to longer prison terms than their White counterparts. This is due, in part, to racial and ethnic biases that exist within the criminal justice system, including racial profiling by law enforcement, implicit [unacknowledged] biases held by judges and jurors, and systemic racism in society.

Economic Inequality: The justice system is premised [supposed to be] on the idea that rich and poor are treated equally. But today, access to justice is based on how much a person can pay. People who are poor are systemically treated worse than the wealthy. People without financial means remain in jail prior to trial because they can’t afford bail, resulting in a higher conviction rate. As well, wealthy people can often afford high level lawyers that focus solely on their case. Poorer people may need to rely on public defenders who have huge caseloads and not enough time to focus on their case.

Mass Incarceration: The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, with over 2 million people currently behind bars. This has led to a system that prioritizes punishment over rehabilitation, and disproportionately affects low-income communities and communities of color.

Mandatory Minimum Sentencing: Laws that require judges to impose specific minimum sentences for certain crimes can also contribute to inequality in the justice system. These laws can result in lengthy sentences for non-violent offenses and limit a judge's ability to consider individual circumstances and factors.

Overall, inequality in the justice system is a complex issue that requires systemic change to address. This includes reforms to policing practices, sentencing guidelines, and access to legal representation, as well as efforts to combat racism and inequality in society more broadly.

TASK

As inequality in the justice system is an ongoing and major social issue in the United States, the president is putting together a team to study the issue of inequality in the justice system and propose solutions. The president has chosen you, the students of IS 303, to complete this task. You will begin by defining the problem, gathering evidence, identifying its causes, evaluating an existing policy meant to address the issue, developing your own solutions, and finally choosing the best one!

As you are working, you will be filling out your graphic organizers in order to guide your research during this Web Quest.

After completing the six-step graphic organizer below, you will be tasked with creating a Google Slide presentation to display your findings. (Model Presentation)

Students will be expected to complete their Web Quests with their finished Google Slides presentation by next week (4 class periods).

PROCESS/RESOURCES

Students will be assigned into groups of four. As a 7th grade student, you have likely heard about some of the issues related to race and justice in the United States. In this task, you will begin to explore the topic of inequality in the justice system and consider some possible solutions.

Begin by learning more about the issue of inequality in the justice system. This can include researching topics such as cash bail, debtor’s prison, Riker’s Island, racial disparities in arrests and sentencing, the impact of mandatory minimum sentences, and the impact of private prisons. During your step-by-step research project, make sure to fill out the graphic organizer below. Some helpful resources to explore might include (Use at least 3 of these resources):

Cash Bail

Debtors' Prison

Riker's Island (article)

Riker's Island (video)

Racial Disparities in Arrests and Sentencing

Mandatory Minimum Sentencing

TED Talks (video)

VERA Institute of Justice

Private Prisons

Suggested viewing at home: “13th” on Netflix

Inequality in the Justice System Graphic Organizer

Step 1: Defining the Problem - What is the social issue you will be researching? [Type response here]

Step 2: Gather Evidence - How do you know that the problem exists? [Type response here]

Step 3: Identify the Causes - What are the causes of the social issue? [Type response here]

Step 4: Evaluate an Existing Policy - What policy is attempting to address the social issue? Has it been effective? [Type response here]

Step 5: Develop Solutions - What are some possible solutions to the social issue? [Type response here]

Step 6: Select the Best Solution - How effective is your solution? How feasible will your solution be to implement? [Type response here]

EVALUATION

Inequality in the Justice System Rubric

Criteria	Exemplary (4 Points	Proficient (3 Points)	Developing (2 Points)	Beginning (1 Point)
Content	Presentation includes clear and thorough information	Presentation includes relevant information	Presentation includes some relevant information	Presentation includes minimal or irrelevant information
Organization	Information is presented in a logical and organized manner	Information is somewhat organized	Information is not well-organized	Information is disorganized and difficult to follow
Creativity and Design	Presentation is visually appealing and creative	Presentation is visually appealing	Presentation is somewhat visually appealing	Presentation is not visually appealing
Spelling and Grammar	Presentation has no spelling or grammar errors	Presentation has a few spelling or grammar errors	Presentation has some spelling or grammar errors	Presentation has numerous spelling or grammar errors
Collaboration	Student actively collaborates with group members	Student somewhat collaborates with group members	Student is not very collaborative with group members	Student does not collaborate with group members

CONCLUSION

Summarize why it is important to solve the problem

CONNECT: How are the ideas and information presented connected to what I already know?

EXTEND: What new ideas did you get that extended or broadened your thinking in new directions?

CHALLENGE: What challenges or puzzles have come up in your mind from the ideas and information presented?

STANDARDS

7R1: Cite textual evidence to support an analysis of what the text says explicitly/implicitly and make logical inferences. (RI&RL)

7W1b: Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant evidence, using credible sources while demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.

7W6: Conduct research to answer questions, including self-generated questions, drawing on multiple sources and refocusing the inquiry when appropriate. Generate additional related questions for further research and investigation.

7W7: Gather relevant information from multiple sources; assess the credibility and accuracy of each source; quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others; avoid plagiarism and follow a standard format for citation.