Diversity and the Criminal Justice System

This research project emphasizes the concept of diversity and criminal justice system. It highlights the demographic of Boston city and Boston Police Department. The research examines the changing relations between the police and the community. The Boston Police Department has dedicated themselves to working in collaboration with the community for the purpose of fighting crime and improving quality of life. The criminal justice system has been favoring certain groups of people over the years.

Running head: DIVERSITY AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
Diversity and the Criminal Justice System
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1DIVERSITY AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
Abstract:
The aim of the research project is to emphasize upon the concept of diversity and criminal justice
system. In this regard, the research seeks to emphasize upon the demographic of the Boston city
and the Boston Police Department. The research further intends to highlight upon the concept of
diversification of the department in terms of biasness of the Criminal Justice System. Lastly, the
research is commissioned to examine the changing relations between the police and the
community.

2DIVERSITY AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
Question 1:
GENDER AND AGE
Percentage of individuals aged under 5 years 5.4%
Percentage of individuals aged under 18 years 17.6%
Percentage of individuals aged under and over 65 years 10.5%
Percentage of Females 50%
Figure 1: [Percentage of gender and age of the Boston community].
Source: [Created by the Author].
RACE AND HISPANIC ORIGIN
Percentage of White People 50%
Percentage of African American 22%
Percentage of Alaska Native and American Indian 0.6%
Percentage of Asians 9.5%
Percentage of Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander 1%
Percentage of Latino 20%
Percentage of White other than Hispanic and Latino 46.7%
Figure 2: [Percentage of Race of the Boston Community].
Source: [Created by the Author].
PERCENTAGE OF POVERTY
Black Families 23.6%

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White Families 27.5%
Latino Persons 32.5%
Asian Families 28.5%
Figure 3: [Percentage of Poverty of the Boston Community].
Source: [Created by the Author].
Question 2:
BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
White Police 37.5%
Hispanic Police 45%
Black Police Share 10%
Asian Police Share 15%
Figure 4: [Percentage of the Boston Police Department].
Source: [Created by the Author].
Question 3:
By comparing the abovementioned demographic data it can be stated that from the very
beginning, the Boston Police Department has been reflective about the community they serve. In
this regard, the statement can be supported by providing three examples. In the first instance, it
can be stated that, there has been significant efforts on the part of the Police Department to create

4DIVERSITY AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
professional culture and inclusive environment ("Interactive Employee Demographics
Dashboard | City of Boston"). However, the minorities remained underrepresented in regard to
varying degrees of the large majority of police department all around the country. In the second
example, emphasis can be made on the part that, in certain jurisdictions, rapid demographic
shifts has been experienced. This is due to the reason that these police authorities have been
reflecting the racial and ethnic groups of the communities. In the third example, it can be cited
that, the Boston Police Department has dedicated themselves in working in collaboration with
the community for the purpose of fighting crime and improving quality of life.
Question 4:
It is worthwhile to refer here that, race and ethnicity of the Boston resident has been
affecting the nature of the Boston criminal system from the very beginning. In the first example,
it is noteworthy to mention here that, the nature of the policing in America is such that it
originated during the colonial times and emphasized upon municipal policing and slave patrols.
The residents largely depended upon the policing system (Ransom). In the second example, it
can be emphasized that, the municipal policing began in order to create response towards
increased public intoxication and increasing population growth (Valencia & Allen). The third
example, it can be stated that, positive changes have been made by the Boston Police Department
with the help of advancement of science and technology and social justice. In spite of all these
advancements, the people of color have been overrepresented in every stage in regard by the
criminal justice system.
Question 5:

5DIVERSITY AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
It is evident that, there have been very little efforts when it came to hiring people of color
in regard to their recruitment and promotion. Therefore, there is a need to diversify the Boston
Police Department for the purpose of maintaining transparency and community inclusion. In the
first instance, it is worth mentioning that, the Boston city has continued to propagate alternative
facts concerning Boston Police department on public forum (Brunson, pp 507-514). In this
context, it can be mentioned that, in such way the police force can be diversified to the large
extent. In the second instance, mention can be made of the various recruiting processes in order
to focus on recruiting communities of color, retention of minority recruitment process and the
adoption of implicit biasness (Conley pp 24-28.). In the third instance, emphasis can be laid upon
the recruitment of individuals speaking foreign languages. In such way, there shall be
advancement in the recruitment of officers belonging to the minority group that will create more
diverse group of applicants in the future.
Question 6:
It is true that the criminal justice system has been favoring certain group of people over
the years. This statement can be supported with three examples. In the first instance, mention can
be made about two different groups of people who has been referred to as victims of crime and
resident of higher areas of crime (Simon, pp 97-115). In the second instance, these individuals
have been affected by the nature of criminal justice policy. The voting rights of these individuals
are slightly less than that of the local residents. Thirdly, these groups have been differentiated
from the others in regard to the community punishments imposed upon them.

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References:
Website and News Articles:
Interactive Employee Demographics Dashboard | City of Boston. (2018). Retrieved from
https://www.cityofboston.gov/diversity.
Ransom, j. (2017). In Boston, some specialized police units are more diverse than others - The
Boston Globe. Retrieved from https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/03/05/boston-
some-specialized-police-units-are-more-diverse-than-others/
wUKyRXCMzkBHPrdDLLF7YP/story.html.
Valencia, M., & Allen, E. (2014). Retrieved from
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/09/01/massachusetts-police-forces-lag-racial-
diversity/RnEIJW5TuVki4ndotvl2GK/story.html.
Journals:
Brunson, Rod K. "Focused Deterrence and Improved Police–Community Relations: Unpacking
the Proverbial “Black Box”." Criminology & Public Policy 14.3 (2015): 507-514.
Conley, Daniel F. "Investigating police-involved fatalities: the Boston model." Prosecutor,
Journal of the National District Attorneys Association 49.1 (2015): 24-28.
Simon, Jonathan. "Governing through crime." Law and Poverty. Routledge, 2017. 97-115.
Books:

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Reiman, Jeffrey, and Paul Leighton. Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison, The
(Subscription): Ideology, Class, and Criminal Justice. Routledge, 2015.
Roberts, Julian. Public opinion, crime, and criminal justice. Routledge, 2018.