The high rates of criminal activities have left the law-enforcing authorities with no option but to arrest the criminals for the committed crimes and to convict them over the issues. The dramatic increase in convicted criminals is influenced by the changes in sentencing and the correctional philosophies. The data that relates to the levels of arrests differs from the data representing the convicted criminals. Most crimes go unreported, and this leads to a higher crime rate and a low rate of conviction. According to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the current statistics of those individuals arrested for committing a crime is approximately 140 per 100,000n people. In 2019, the number of reported arrests was over 10 million, and this is a highly reduced figure if compared to the other years. In all the reported cases, the number of convicts is lower than the number of crimes committed. In 90% of the reported cases, only 68% of the individuals became convicted. This indicated that there is a massive difference between the number of reported cases and the number of individuals who become convicted in the correctional facilities.
Racial discrimination is a practice that continues to be condemned under the criminal justice system. The Asian, blacks and individuals from the minority ethnic groups continue to face unjustified arrest as they are more likely to be jailed for the same crime than the whites (Butler, 1995) . Together with the other minority groups, the black people are more likely to be imprisoned than the whites, and this reveals the racial disparities that exist the arrests, charging, prosecution and imprisonment. The ethnic minority groups continue to face unfair deals in the criminal justice system. For instance, ethnic minorities are more likely to receive long terms of imprisonment than whites. Research has it that young black males are more likely than young white males to face robbery arrests, and this indicates how black men are more likely to be arrested than white men. Such figures suggest that there is discriminate treatment by the police when it comes to the arrest and convict of the minority groups, especially the blacks.
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The national statistics provide controversial numbers when it comes to the arrest of individuals from different ethnic groups. The 2016 statistics, for instance, indicate a considerable difference in arrests when it comes to individuals from other ethnic groups. Those arrested for murder in 2016 consisted of 5270 whites, 6210 blacks, and 140 American Indians and 170 Asians. The sexual assault consisted of 21250 were whites, 1420 blacks, 150 American Indians and 2350 Asians. When it comes to the crimes associated with weapon offences, 87660 were whites, 65540 blacks, 1430 American Indians and 2150 Asians. The drug offences statistics included 1.1 million whites, 420,000 blacks, 16,130 African Americans and 20,080 Asians. Aggravated Assault and Arson comprised of 241,000 whites, 127,800 blacks, 8, 00 American Indians and 7,000 Asians. The statics indicate that the minority groups get involved in criminal activities on a lower scale than the majority group. However, this does not reflect in the criminal justice system as most of the minorities are put behind bars for the same crimes committed by the whites who go Scott free.
Justifiable homicide involved the killing of an individual without an ill motive or blame, and such situations include self-defense whereby an individual can kill the other while defending themselves or when a law-enforcement officer accidentally shoots an individual in their line of duty (Robin, 1963) . Such incidents are considered as justifiable homicide. In most cases, homicides become justifiable depending on the surrounding conditions that prevent such actions from being considered a crime. The law permits such stories, and they cannot be regarded as criminal activities. In 2016, the number of justifiable homicides enforced by the law was 440, and those that involved private citizens were 334.
In conclusion, racial disparities continue to play an essential role I the criminal justice system due to the high number of arrests and convicts of the racial minorities. Statistics indicate that black people are more likely to get arrested for white people's same crimes. There is a big difference in the number of individuals who get arrested. Those who get convicted as statistics indicate that in every 90% of the reports cases, only 60% become convicted. Even in the arrests and convictions, racial discrimination continues to be evident as the minorities face harsh and longer sentencing than the majority.
References
Butler, P. (1995). Racially based jury nullification: Black power in the criminal justice system. Yale Lj , 105 , 677.
Robin, G. D. (1963). Justifiable homicide by police officers. The Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology, and Police Science , 54 (2), 225-231.
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/crime/ucr.asp?table_in=2
