Section Article

Racial Disparities in Criminal Justice: Exploring Bias in Sentencing and Incarceration
Author(s): Dinesh Prajapati

Abstract
Racial inequities in the criminal justice system continue to be a serious concern with substantial evidence of prejudice in sentencing and imprisonment practices. This study investigates the degree and effect of racial prejudice on judicial outcomes focusing on the role of race in sentence harshness incarceration duration and the probability of imprisonment. An analysis of court records statistical data and interviews with legal professionals indicates that minority groups especially Black and Hispanic individuals face disproportionately harsher sentencing practices than their white counterparts for comparable offences. The study investigates the influence of systemic variables such as socioeconomic position the quality of legal counsel and unconscious racial prejudices that contribute to these inequities. The results highlight the need for reforms to promote equality in the criminal justice system including compulsory bias training for legal practitioners and policy modifications that tackle the underlying causes of racial disparities in sentence and imprisonment.