Constitutional Law

Bill Aimed At Eradicating Racial, Ethnic Disparities in Criminal Justice System

A bill that would require the U.S. Attorney General to study racial and ethnic disparities in the judicial system is wending its way through Congress. In July, Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.) introduced the “Justice Integrity Act,” along with Sens. Arlen Specter (R-Penn.), Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.). The measure, S.3245, would require the Attorney General to create advisory groups in ten federal districts to examine and determine the pervasiveness of racial and ethnic disparity in the criminal justice system.

In a statement announcing the measure’s introduction, Biden said, “Nowhere is the guarantee of equal protection more important than in our criminal justice system. The reality is that despite the best efforts and intentions of policymakers, racial and ethnic disparities continue to plague our justice system. We need to step up our efforts to root these disparities out.” Biden maintained that recent studies, reports and case law have documented racial disparities in the criminal justice system. Additionally the bill would require the Attorney General to make public the findings of the groups’ studies and recommendations on how to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities. The measure is pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee. A similar bill, H.R. 6518, has been introduced in the House, by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.).

Full post as published by ACS Blog on August 04, 2008 (boomark / email).