RACE & VICTIMIZATION
Michael Brown, a black 18-year old man, was shot by Darren Wilson who was a police officer in August 2014. The police department in Ferguson conducted a biased investigation, and they released a false report that Brown was involved in a ‘strong-arm robbery’ (Brown, 2016). The reality was that the murder of Brown was due to racial disparity. The US Department of Justice did not file charges against the Darren Wilson arguing that there was not enough evidence. The police officer did not follow the appropriate procedures, but he used excessive force to kills the black suspect. The incidence shows that police officer took on ‘a continuum of force' policy to justify his actions (Brown, 2016). Wilson reported that the situation could not allow him to use the chemical spray. The County grand jury supported Wilson and argued that the use of force was defensible and there were no criminal charges for the deadly shooting. In essence, Wilson violated the civil rights and a broader investigation on Ferguson's police officers and courts reported that the city has deep-seated racism, the police department is characterized by corruption and racist system and, police officers target black residents. The Americans supported Wilson and reported that he was a hero and he killed Brown to protect himself (Brown, 2016).
The common factors that might have contributed to the vulnerability of the victim are the class issues which result in undesirable life events to the minority. For example, the socioeconomic difference is a factor that increases the vulnerability of the victim since people from the lower class are more likely to be assassinated than the whites. In this, socioeconomic status does not only encompass income but also education and financial position. Black people in America live in communities with low economic development; they have the low level of education among other factors that influence discrimination and marginalization (Davis, Lurigio, & Herman, 2013). Another factor that increases the vulnerability of the victim is cultural insensitivities. The latter indicates that the cultural differences between whites and blacks create unique behaviors, values, and references and, the uniqueness makes the minority vulnerable to external hostilities and confrontation. Cultural insensitivity develops ethnocentrism where white cultures believes that they are superior to the black cultures. Both socioeconomic differences and cultural insensitivities creates barriers in that the minority cannot access the necessary services. Lack of facilities and even social support establishes a path for physical abuses (Davis, Lurigio, & Herman, 2013).
Race and ethnicity factor that might have contributed to the homicide against the victim is color lines. Color lines have created differences in social structures which leads to stigmatization against the minorities. Due to the stigma and victimization, the victims cannot access the needed services such as protective services from the law enforcement (Davis, Lurigio, & Herman, 2013). The racial divide and the power structure acts as a threat to the black people since they experience deadly race riots, violence, and segregation. Police officers have the different police force, and they treat the citizens with racial makeup. In other words, Michael Brown was a victim of police brutality due to color lines (Davis, Lurigio, & Herman, 2013).
The criminal justice system presents racial disparities in dealing with different races. The law enforcement agencies arrest a higher number of innocent black residents than white residents. For example, in 2013, the total number of black people who were detained were 92.7% whereas white was 6.9% (Harrell, 2017). This indicates that the criminal justice system deals with victims different due to race or ethnicity. Black people in Ferguson live in a transient community where they encounter negative experiences with the police officers. In dealing with victims, the criminal justice system put into concern factors such as race, level of education, socioeconomic position and more. Since the majority of black people live in segregated cities, they suffer from high poverty rates, and they are unable to access social needs. They are overrepresented in issues like arrest and murder, and they are underrepresented in the ladders of opportunity (Truman, 2011).
References
Brown Steven. (2016). Michael Brown, Ferguson, and why race matters for policy research. Retrieved from: https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/michael-brown-ferguson-and-why-race-matters-policy-research
Davis, R. C., Lurigio, A. J., & Herman, S. (2013). Victims of crime. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications.
Harrell Erika. (2007). Black Victims of Violent Crime. Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report. U.S Department of Justice. Retrieved from: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/bvvc.pdf
Truman I. Jennifer. (2011). National Criminal Victimization survey: Criminal victimization, 2010. U.S Department of Justice. Retrieved from: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/cv10.pdf
