Watch Michelle Alexander’s Ted Talk book “The New Jim Crow” aims to stimulate a conversation about the criminal justice system’s role in creating and perpetuating racial hierarchy (or a racial caste-like system) in the United States. She raises compelling arguments about institutional racism, mass incarceration and felon disenfranchisement in the U.S. In this week’s discussion, discuss your own thoughts on this piece. Do you agree or disagree? In your view, what are some of the problems with incarceration as the primary sentence? What alternatives would you recommend in lieu of incarceration? What sentencing philosophy supports your favorite alternative?
The article “Dumbing Down Juries” raises concerns about how attorneys often remove jurors with specialized knowledge or professional expertise during
The article “Dumbing Down Juries” raises concerns about how attorneys often remove jurors with specialized knowledge or professional expertise during jury selection—favoring those perceived as more easily influenced. While this strategy may serve legal tactics, it raises important questions about fairness, competence, and transparency in the judicial process. In the