White Justice, Black Defendants

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Several states, including Washington, Michigan and New York, have already convened special commissions to consider ways to balance inequities in their systems by, among other things, hiring more blacks at all levels and holding seminars and other training programs to help sensitize white court officers to minority cultures. Programs have also begun to encourage victim-assistance workers to reach out to blacks and Hispanics, assuring them that they too are entitled to their day in court. It is only through such measures that minorities may begin to believe in equal justice for all.

CHART: NOT AVAILABLE

CREDIT: TIME Chart by Cynthia Davis

SOURCE: Bureau of Justice Statistics

CAPTION: JAIL TIME IN BLACK AND WHITE

DESCRIPTION: Average sentences for blacks and for whites convicted of murder, rape, kidnaping, robbery, arson, drug trafficking and drug possession, as well as for all crimes; color illustration of black person and white person on scales.