Watch Michelle Alexander’s Ted Talk book “The New Jim Crow” aims to stimulate a conversation about the criminal justice system’s role in creating and perpetuating racial hierarchy (or a racial caste-like system) in the United States. She raises compelling arguments about institutional racism, mass incarceration and felon disenfranchisement in the U.S. In this week’s discussion, discuss your own thoughts on this piece. Do you agree or disagree? In your view, what are some of the problems with incarceration as the primary sentence? What alternatives would you recommend in lieu of incarceration? What sentencing philosophy supports your favorite alternative?
3.3 The Plea The criminal justice system relies heavily on the plea bargaining process to work through the sheer volumes of cases. Over 95% of all
3.3 The Plea The criminal justice system relies heavily on the plea bargaining process to work through the sheer volumes of cases. Over 95% of all felony cases end with a negotiated plea. Please watch the PBS documentary called “The Plea” using the link provided, which traces several storylines of