Barriers to Justice & Paths Forward

Barriers to Justice & Paths Forward Throughout this course, we have examined how race, gender, and class shape experiences within the criminal justice system. For your final project, you will analyze one major justice issue and propose realistic reforms grounded in course concepts. Instructions: Choose ONE Focus Area Select one of the following system areas: Policing (profiling, militarization, protest policing) Courts & Sentencing (prosecutorial discretion, indigent defense, mandatory minimums) Incarceration & Drug Policy (mass incarceration, private prisons, legalization vs. prohibition) Death Penalty Reentry & Barriers After Prison Juvenile Justice Gender & Justice (gendered pathways, domestic violence, exploitation) Immigration & Criminal Justice (crimmigration, citizenship profiling) Explain the Problem In this section, you must: Describe how this issue operates in the U.S. justice system Explain how race, gender, and/or class shape who is most affected Connect your discussion to at least two course concepts (examples: social construction, conflict theory, deterrence, intersectionality, procedural justice, colonial model, etc.) Evaluate Current Approaches Discuss: What is currently being done to address this issue? Why have these efforts been limited, controversial, or ineffective? Propose a Reform Plan Design one realistic reform that could improve justice outcomes. Your reform must include: What would change Who would be responsible (courts, police, lawmakers, community orgs, etc.) How it would reduce disparities or improve fairness One possible challenge or criticism of your proposal Project Requirements Length: 3-5 pages Sources: Course textbook At least 3 academic outside sources Format: APA 7th edition Tone: Formal, analytical (not opinion-based)