Week Four: Racialization of Crime

The racialization of crime refers to how racial biases and stereotypes affect people’s perceptions of crime and shape criminal justice policies. This topic looks at how people of color, especially Black, Latinx individuals, and Muslims, are unfairly targeted and impacted by law enforcement practices and the criminal justice system. It also examines how race, media portrayals, and public attitudes towards crime intersect, showing how systemic racism and Islamophobia influence crime-related policies and outcomes.

Week Four Themes

• The History of Racializing Crime: The racialization of crime in the United States is deeply rooted in historical practices such as slavery, Black Codes, and Jim Crow laws. These policies were intentionally crafted to criminalize and control Black individuals, embedding systemic racial biases into the legal framework. Even after slavery was abolished, laws continued to disproportionately target marginalized communities, perpetuating their oppression. Understanding this history is crucial for recognizing the enduring racial biases within the modern criminal justice system.
• Media Representation: The media plays a key role in shaping how the public views people, often perpetuating stereotypes that associate Black and Brown individuals with crime. Sensationalized headlines, biased news reports, and stereotypical portrayals in TV shows and movies help spread harmful narratives. These representations increase fear, prejudice, and biased approaches to policing and justice. Looking closely at these media portrayals shows how deeply racial bias affects communities of color and emphasizes the need for better representation and greater equity in media.
• The War on Drugs and Mass Incarceration: Policies enacted during the War on Drugs era disproportionately targeted Black and Latino communities, fueling the mass incarceration crisis we face today. Despite comparable rates of drug use across racial groups, people of color were arrested and imprisoned at significantly higher rates. These policies shattered families, deprived communities of opportunities, and entrenched cycles of poverty and criminalization. Even now, the effects persist, as millions continue to grapple with the consequences of past convictions and systemic barriers.
• Racial Profiling and Policing Practices: Racial profiling and discriminatory policing practices unfairly target Black and Brown individuals, leading to unjust stops, searches, and arrests. Tactics like stop-and-frisk and surveillance in black and brown communities continue racial bias in the justice system. Data shows that communities of color face more aggressive policing, which worsens mistrust between these communities and law enforcement. Addressing these issues is crucial for building safer, more equitable public safety systems.
• Restorative Justice and Reimagining Public Safety: Building a more equitable and humane criminal justice system requires exploring alternatives like restorative justice and community-led safety efforts. Restorative justice focuses on healing, accountability, and building trust instead of using punishment. By investing in community resources and addressing the root causes of crime, we can move toward a fairer and more just system. This session will help participants imagine a future where public safety is about community well-being, not criminalization.