Race, Gender, Class, and Criminal Justice

Book excerpt: In the United States, those who become involved or interact with the criminal justice system often experience the system differently based on their race, class, and/or gender. To better understand this problem, this textbook examines race, class, and gender from a historical perspective to help the reader make the connection between the terms' historical connotations and how they are used today. The remainder of the text focuses on how one's race, class, and/or gender can impact interactions with the police, courts, corrections, and reentry after prison. The second edition of this textbook embraces an intentional focus to include more diverse perspectives on the topics covered in the book. This includes the addition of a co-author as well as more references to the writings and research of those from diverse and often underrepresented backgrounds. A more in-depth examination of race and ethnicity also is included with a chapter now dedicated to each topic, their historical connotations, and how these terms are used today. A new chapter examining juveniles explores how childhood is constructed and how intersectionality impacts the experiences of youth in the juvenile justice system. Additional changes include updates to the militarization chapter which adds historical and contemporary perspectives of protest policing in light of the 2020 social unrest following the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. To provide more in-depth information on issues that are relevant to the topics being discussed, each chapter includes "In Focus" text boxes as well as a "Global Spotlight" text box that discusses the topic from a global perspective. Each chapter also ends with a series of discussion questions to encourage further engagement and reflection with the topic. Teaching materials includes PowerPoint lectures, test questions, and ideas for further classroom engagement. The fifteen chapters cover the following topics: * DEFINING RACE * DEFINING ETHNICITY * DEFINING SEX AND GENDER * DEFINING SOCIOECONMOIC STATUS, THE AMERICAN DREAM, AND COLONIALISM * THE EVER-EVOLVING DEFINITION OF CRIME * POLICE & COMMUNITIES: RACIAL PROFILING AND COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING * MILITARIZATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT & AND PROTEST POLICING * JUDGES, PROSECUTORS, AND INDIGENT DEFENSE * JUVENILE JUSTICE: INTERSECTIONALITY AND SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIONS OF CHILDHOOD * THE DEATH PENALTY * OVERUSE OF INCARCERATION AND POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES * REENTRY * DOMESTIC VIOLENCE * HUMAN TRAFFICKING * WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?