DC Accepted Papers Paper:
Colorism and the Perception of Justice
*Names in bold indicate Presenter
Diversity among criminal justice professionals is considered critical to improve cultural sensitivity in everyday practices as well as community relations, especially for racial/ethnic minorities. Previous scholarship focuses on the role of race/ethnicity in shaping perceptions of the criminal justice system. However, racial/ethnic categories ignore the role of skin tone in lived experience. The objectives of this research underscore advantages such as examining how colorism impacts perceptions of the criminal justice system, particularly those related to working as a CJ professional. Specifically, we focus on the policy implications of colorism and diversifying the criminal justice workforce where it may impact community relations for racial/ethnic minorities.
