Disparity and Discrimination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Disparity and Discrimination - Essay Example Disparity means the â€Å"difference between the ratios of a cognizable group in one population when compared to the ratio of that same group in another population† (Commission on Racial and Ethnic Disparity in the Criminal Justice System, 2004, p. 6). This means that if for example, 15% of women in the USA are arrested, but that 40% of the women arrested are from one racial or ethnic group, disparity is evident. The one racial group (the 40%) is therefore overrepresented, and the other racial groups may be underrepresented. Disparity, however, does not always mean that discrimination is taking place. Discrimination occurs when disparate treatment – when one group is being treated differently from others for â€Å"invalid reasons such as gender, racial and/or ethnic status† (Commission on Racial and Ethnic Disparity in the Criminal Justice System, 2004, p. 6). When disparity is caused by discrimination in the Criminal Justice System, it is of great concern, as the Constitution of the United States of America is contradicted. Therefore, if people from minority groups are more likely to be arrested, or to appear in court, or imprisoned, discrimination is clear, and the situation has to be addressed. Both disparity and discrimination remain characteristics of the Criminal Justice System in the USA, even though the law is meant to prevent especially discrimination. This is true of all levels of the Criminal Justice System: law enforcement, court procedures, and in correction populations. The ratio of African-Americans, Latinos and Native Americans found in every stage of the Criminal Justice System is higher than the ratio of any other ethnic or racial group in the USA (Johnson & Widder Heilman, 2001, website). While it is clear that the proportion of particular race groups does differ from area to area, which would explain the disparity of arrests, it is also clear that nationally,