The discrimination of young and unemployed African Americans and Hispanic males dates back in the 19 th century when minority racial groups were convicted more than whites. According to the statistic that was released in 2005, about 1.8 million prisoners were African Americans between 18 and 24 years old. At the same time, less than 50% of African Americans and Hispanic are arrested to violent crimes, even though they account for more than 50% of total convictions, including 60% of people sent to prisons. The discrimination of African Americans and Hispanics in the criminal justice has not significantly changed since the 19 th century. Discrimination of African Americans and Hispanics male in the US criminal justice system is caused by racial and cultural stereotypes and socio-economic factors (McNamara & Burns, 2009).
The need to balance two competing interest is one of the main reasons for the discrimination of minority racial groups in the criminal justice system in USA. The two competing interests include the need to safeguard constitutional rights and protecting citizens adhering to laws. Consequently, there is lack of consistency on how the law is applied to different citizens. However, minority racial groups are the people on the receiving end because they are soft targets (McNamara & Burns, 2009).
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Negative racial and cultural stereotypes against African Americans and Hispanic have led to racial profiling in various sectors, including criminal justice system. Young and unemployed black males are perceived to be prone to participating in criminal activities. At the same time, they are perceives to pose more danger to the societal security and safety (McNamara & Burns, 2009). As a result, they are more likely to receive severe penalties than their white counterparts. Race, therefore, has direct and significant influence penalties received by criminals. The negative racial stereotypes against young and unemployed African American and Hispanics, especially with regard to criminal activities are so rooted in American society that they influence how the racial groups are treated in the criminal justice system.
Socio-economic differences between minority groups and whites are another factor that makes young and unemployed African Americans and Hispanic males to pay higher punishment penalties. Police and judges are more likely to associate criminal behaviors to socio-economic status of the suspect that the evidence presented in courts ( Free, 1996) . In many cases, judges associate the criminal behavior of people of low socioeconomic status to their disposition while criminal behaviors of rich people are linked to their situations. For instance, African American who is arrested with drug is seen as drug peddler and abuser and he is likely to get arrested and send to jail for long sentence. In the contrary, high-class people who are arrested with drug is associated with his situations and are likely to get less severe penalties like rehabilitation and probation. The majority of young and unemployed African American and Hispanic males are poor, making them to pay higher punishment penalty compared to white offenders ( Free, 1996) .
In conclusion, the discrimination of young and unemployed African Americana and Hispanic makes likely to continue due to racial and socio-economic factors. Young males from minority racial groups are associated to criminal activities and they are more likely to receive severe punishment than other offenders of the same crimes. Poverty is also making the groups to receive unequal treatment in the criminal justice system. The discrimination of young people from minority groups can only stop when criminal justice system treats all people equally.
References
Free, M. D. (1996). African Americans and the criminal justice system (Vol. 13). Taylor & Francis.
McNamara, R. H., & Burns, R. G. (2009). Multiculturalism in the criminal justice system . New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
