Minority Groups and the Court System

Minority groups are exposed to circumstances that reveal disparity in the manner they are

treated as compared to others based on race, gender, social status, and religion. Discrimination

and stereotypes are the main factors that lead to unequal treatment of such persons in social

arenas and workplaces. However, some individuals are unaware that their actions towards others

may affect them negatively even when it is unintended. The minority group has struggled to deal

with these vices in their societies and even in the court system. There are differences between

implicit biases and stereotypes as well as explicit stereotyping and attitudes which enable us to

understand the extent of discrimination and unfair treatment of others. These types of biases

affect courtroom proceedings in the judicial system. Additionally, racial disparity in sentencing

affects the judicial system in various ways.

Implicit biases and stereotypes and explicit stereotyping and attitudes differences

The present differences of stereotypes, attitudes, and biases affect the minority group as

well as the court systems. Persons tend to have unconscious or unintended biases towards other

individuals or objects which are greatly not within the conscious thought, as discussed by Hanser

and Gomila (2015). These persons are viewed differently by others possibly due to their lifestyle,

race, religion, or gender even though it is unconscious. Based on someone’s past experiences,

they may form unconscious biases towards other people, a phenomenon which is referred to as

implicit stereotyping. The stereotyping is usually not scientifically proven yet such people form

generalized opinions towards other people of that race, religion, or social status.

In the modern day world, most individuals have in some way formed implicit biases or

stereotypes against other persons who left us having a negative attitude and image in our minds.