Honors College Theses

Publication Date

11-2-2022

Major

Political Science (B.A.)

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (open access)

Faculty Mentor

Dr. Brett Curry

Abstract

How do jurors' responses to Non-White defendants in the Criminal Courts change when they are primed to think about police discrimination? There are general disparities within the Criminal Justice System of the United States that negatively impact racial minorities. This paper discusses these general disparities within the Criminal Justice System of the United States. Black and Latinx individuals are charged and sentenced for crimes involving drugs at higher rates than Whites. They are also more likely to face the death penalty or longer sentences. I look at whether or not priming jury members to think about police discrimination will decrease the likelihood that they declare Non-White defendants guilty. I complete an experimental survey to examine the effects priming has on potential jury members' views of the level of guiltiness of Non-White defendants.

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