Nonfiction book review
Just Mercy: ‘A Story of Justice and Redemption’ by Bryan Stevenson
Review: Injustice in the criminal justice system and the need for reform.
Audience: Criminal justice officials
Introduction
‘Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption’ is a nonfiction book written by a young African American man known as Bryan Stevenson. He is a prominent lawyer who shows a public interest in helping the incarcerated and the underprivileged people. The author is interested in social justice and elimination of racial bias which is the root cause of injustice. He presents evidence of inequality in U.S legal system by giving account of his clients. Stevenson lived in a community which was racially segregated and the people in this community were also marginalized. In this book, the author presents compelling stories which clearly shows how people were marginalized and excluded and the root cause of this was inequality in the criminal justice system. When writing the book, the author employs skill and compassion and emotion to allow the readers see the injustice and ineffectiveness of U.S criminal justice system and the need for reform. In addition, the author allows the audiences follow the implemented legal practice and maximize equal justice. I agree with the author’s real fact that U.S criminal justice system is inefficient and racist, and this is not debatable issue. The purpose of this review is to allow the audiences reflect on mass incarceration and the negative impact of injustice on people’s life.
In order to bring change in social justice, the criminal justice system should understand the importance of mercy and justice to the well-being of the people. In writing the book, the author was motivated and influenced by a lesson he learned from his grandmother that “You can’t understand most of the important things from a distance…You have to get close (Stevenson, 14). In understanding the important things, he was interested in exploring the well-being of people as much as injustice is concerned. His effort to go deeper to explore the injustice, he came to understand that underprivileged and marginalized people were treated unfairly on criminals issues. When we read the book, we find a great mass incarceration and extreme punishment and the process taken does not follow the legal practice. In other words, people were being incarcerated without fairness and the purpose of the author in writing this book is to fight with this unfairness and follow the legal procedure in prosecuting and incarcerating. For example, the author says that the rate of imprisonment has increased in a dramatic rate from 1970s up to today where prisons were 300, 000 and now they are 2.3million respectively (Stevenson, 14). Other change that has occurred is that in 2001, among 15born babies, 1 person will be imprisoned and among 3born black babies, 1 person will be imprisoned in 21st century. The root cause of this problem is poor criminal justice laws. The laws do not different between children and adults and this means that they end up addressing children cases like adults and the life sentence is imposed on them without parole (Stevenson, 16).
Through understanding the mass incarceration and its cost, the author says that there is sense of hope. It is true that reformation is needed in order to prevent future suffering of the innocent people. For instance, the case of a black man namely Walter McMullian shows the unreliable verdicts which underprivileged people experienced. McMullian was in relationship with a white woman but later he was wrongly charged for rapist (Stevenson, 19). To address the challenges which poor people, disfavored and incarcerated face without fairness, justice should be a key element. In prisons, children were mistreated and their cases were being addressed as adults. Women also faced similar challenges and their condition has deteriorated since the number of women being imprisoned has increased by higher percent. Mentally disabled people have also been mistreated despite their condition. These accounts shows that the criminal justice system is not fare when addressing criminal cases. There is a systemic bias since there a high rate of racial minority (Stevenson, 20). The account tells that the criminal justice system is controlled by systematic discrimination and the root cause of this is bias against certain groups. In addition, there is institutional discrimination where there are disparities on race and ethnicity. Contextual discrimination is also noticeable where different circumstances. Profiling and stereotyping increases mass incarceration due to the fact that the system addresses the cases by looking on conditions and behaviors of the offender. In addition, the system uses the perception that a particular social group is a threat to the society (Vegh, 9). Stereotype makes the criminal justice officials omit some steps in investigating the crime since they believe that certain group is always involved in a crime. For example, stereotype makes the officials believe that African Americans are involved in drugs and crime and this result to false investigations in addressing crimes (Vegh, 12).
U.S criminal justice system is characterized with malfeasance and racism but Stevenson has shown his effort in reforming it. He has implemented the best measures to ensure that innocent people are not biased when it comes to criminal cases. He has ensured the abolishment of parole and the offenders are provided with education and other assistance (Stevenson, 242). There are implemented policies which need to be followed in addressing criminal cases. Stevenson states that people should have compassion in order to fight mistreatment, fear, anger and corruption. In addition, people should understand the effect of mass incarceration and this will help them seek mercy, justice and unmerited grace. Other thing that people should understand is that fairness and equality is not shown through treating the rich and the privileged in a positive manner (Stevenson, 243). However, fairness and equality is treating the disfavored and underprivileged in the right way.
In supporting Stevenson’s ideas, Vegh (2017) adds that America has progressed well on issues regarding the right to vote, right for employment and right for public accommodation. Minorities have control in public and private settings and they enjoy the economic and educational benefits like natives. However, a big problem is noticed in the criminal justice system and the root cause of the problem is racial inequality since when imposing criminal laws minorities are biased. From 1964 to 1968, the Congress has passed various Acts but it has not touched on issues regarding the equality in criminal justice system. One thing that the agencies in criminal system do not know is that democracy is made by ensuring fairness and equity in criminal justice system (Vegh, 12). Through equality, people from black and white communities will receive equal treatment and agencies will conduct ‘fair play’. In addition, democracy means that criminal justice system should be controlled by equality and equity in addressing social justice issues (Vegh, 18). However, fairness and equality cannot be achieved if there is no transparency in investigation process, prosecution and punishment. Currently, the criminal justice system is controlled by unequal treatment and Black people are victims of unfair treatment in every stage. Innocent and guilty Blacks face racial disparities simply because of race or ethnicity. The mistreatment is the root cause of mass incarceration where majority are minority group (Vegh, 27). There is a colored problem in the criminal justice system and disproportionate minority contact which affects the life of minority.
Conclusion
Stevenson states that technology, design and intellect are not important to the society but the important thing is showing justice and equality to the poor and incarcerated people. In his career, Stevenson has addressed cases on people imposed death row and children who are mistreated. He has dealt with mentally disabled people whose rights are unmet. Stevenson has come across cases where innocent people face death threat without evidence of crime. In evaluating this book, the pain point which comes out apparently is that the criminal justice system treat minority unfairly and the root cause of unfairness is racial bias. However, with the Equal Justice Initiative, the criminal justice system will be reformed especially on racial inequality. The system should forget about racial terrorism era and focus on civil right era where everyone will gain opportunity to enjoy rights. In 21st century, among 3born black babies, 1 will be imprisoned. To eliminate racial inequality, corruption and poverty, the criminal justice system should apply equality and justice in addressing crime.
Reference
Vegh, Weis V. Marxism and Criminology: A History of Criminal Selectivity. , 2017. BRILL
Stevenson, Bryan. Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. , 2014. Print. Scribe
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