ABA survey: 52% believe justice system is racially biased.

Byline: Michaela Paukner, mpaukner@wislawjournal.com

A recent survey from the American Bar Associationfound that more than half ofrespondents believe the U.S. criminal-justice system is racially biased.

The ABA's 2021 Survey of Civic Literacy questioned 1,000 adults throughout the U.S. about their opinions on the criminal-justice system. The survey was conducted in March by phone in English and Spanish.

Slightly more than half of respondents, 52%, agreed with the statement that "The justice system has racial biases built into its rules, procedures and practices."When broken down by race, 80% of Black people, 63% of Hispanic people and 45% of white people agreed.A majority thought the judicial system adheres to the rule of law and treats all individuals equally, but the support for that statement also varied by race and age.

Fifty-five percent of people thought that prosecutors should be able to charge juveniles under 18 years old as adults for serious crimes. Once again, the results again varied by age and race...

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