Essay On A Civil Liberties Issuesubmit Assignmentduewednesday3321 ✓ Solved

Essay on a Civil Liberties Issue Submit Assignment · Due Wednesday 3/3/21 by 11:59pm · Points 100 · Submitting a text entry box 1. Go to the web site of the American Civil Liberties Union ( click here (Links to an external site.) ). Click "Issues" from the banner. 2. Under your issue, select one and only one of the "current issues" and expand it using the "More +" button.

For example, under the first issue, Capital Punishment, the "current issues" are: Execution Methods Innocence and the Death Penalty Mental Illness and the Death Penalty Prosecutorial Misconduct and Capital Punishment Racial Disparities and the Death Penalty Select one and only of the "current issues" categorized under any one of the main "issues" headings. Do not choose Reforming Police. We are writing on that topic on one of the discussion boards. Also, please do not choose abortion policy. It's an important topic, but off limits for this assignment.

3. Read several articles (at least 4) from your chosen area of the web site. 4. Based on these several articles, write a 600-word paper in essay form which a) summarizes the issue, b) explains the position the ACLU takes on this issue and the work the organization has undertaken, and c) argues whether or not you believe the ACLU is on the right side of the issue. 5.

Copy and paste your essay from your document into the text window. Please do not attempt to upload a file or post a link. Check your formatting and correct it as needed before submitting. Essay on a Civil Liberties Issue Submit Assignment · Due Wednesday 3/3/21 by 11:59pm · Points 100 · Submitting a text entry box 1. Go to the web site of the American Civil Liberties Union ( click here (Links to an external site.) ).

Click "Issues" from the banner. 2. Under your issue, select one and only one of the "current issues" and expand it using the "More +" button. For example, under the first issue, Capital Punishment, the "current issues" are: Execution Methods Innocence and the Death Penalty Mental Illness and the Death Penalty Prosecutorial Misconduct and Capital Punishment Racial Disparities and the Death Penalty Select one and only of the "current issues" categorized under any one of the main "issues" headings. Do not choose Reforming Police.

We are writing on that topic on one of the discussion boards. Also, please do not choose abortion policy. It's an important topic, but off limits for this assignment. 3. Read several articles (at least 4) from your chosen area of the we b site.

4. Based on these several articles, write a 600 - word paper in essay form which a) summarizes the issue, b) explains the position the ACLU takes on this issue and the work the organization has undertaken, and c) argues whether or not you believe the ACLU is on the right side of the issue. Essay on a Civil Liberties Issue Submit Assignment ï‚· Due Wednesday 3/3/21 by 11:59pm ï‚· Points 100 ï‚· Submitting a text entry box 1. Go to the web site of the American Civil Liberties Union (click here (Links to an external site.)). Click "Issues" from the banner.

2. Under your issue, select one and only one of the "current issues" and expand it using the "More +" button. For example, under the first issue, Capital Punishment, the "current issues" are: Execution Methods Innocence and the Death Penalty Mental Illness and the Death Penalty Prosecutorial Misconduct and Capital Punishment Racial Disparities and the Death Penalty Select one and only of the "current issues" categorized under any one of the main "issues" headings. Do not choose Reforming Police. We are writing on that topic on one of the discussion boards.

Also, please do not choose abortion policy. It's an important topic, but off limits for this assignment. 3. Read several articles (at least 4) from your chosen area of the web site. 4. Based on these several articles, write a 600-word paper in essay form which a) summarizes the issue, b) explains the position the ACLU takes on this issue and the work the organization has undertaken, and c) argues whether or not you believe the ACLU is on the right side of the issue.

Paper for above instructions

Title: Racial Disparities and the Death Penalty: An Analysis of Civil Liberties Issues
The death penalty remains one of the most controversial civil liberties issues in contemporary American society. Taking a closer look, a significant aspect of this debate revolves around racial disparities in capital punishment. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has been at the forefront of advocacy and legal challenges concerning these disparities, shedding light on the systemic injustices that plague the criminal justice system, primarily concerning race. This essay will summarize the issue of racial disparities in the death penalty, outline the ACLU's position and efforts to combat this issue, and offer an argumentative perspective on whether the ACLU is justified in its stance.
Summary of the Issue
The stark reality is that racial disparities significantly shape the administration of the death penalty in the United States. Studies show that a disproportionate number of death row inmates are people of color, and particularly African Americans. According to the ACLU, while African Americans constitute approximately 13% of the U.S. population, they make up over 40% of those on death row (ACLU, 2023). Furthermore, research has demonstrated that the race of the victim influences death penalty cases significantly; killers of white victims are far more likely to receive the death penalty than those of victims of color (Bowers, 2019). This disparity raises questions about equity, justice, and the fundamental principles of American democracy, including the ideal that justice should be impartial and blind to race.
The intersectionality of race and socioeconomic status adds another layer of complexity, whereby impoverished people, often of color, receive inadequate legal representation, which exacerbates their chances of being sentenced to death (Harris, 2021). This systemic bias and discrimination lead to the conclusion that the death penalty is not only a question of legal justice but a moral failing of the society that implements it.
ACLU's Position and Actions on Racial Disparities in the Death Penalty
The ACLU staunchly opposes the death penalty as a punitive measure, positioning the organization as a defender of civil liberties and social justice (ACLU, 2023). Their position is predicated on the idea that racial discrimination is entrenched in the application of capital punishment. The ACLU campaigns against the death penalty on several fronts, advocating for a thorough examination of racial bias within death row sentencing. They assert that the justice system's inefficiencies disproportionately jeopardize vulnerable communities, particularly communities of color, thereby perpetuating a cycle of inequity (ACLU, 2023).
To combat these injustices, the ACLU has engaged in public education campaigns that inform citizens about the racial disparities in death penalty cases. Additionally, they participate in legal challenges to wrongful convictions and unfair trials arising from biased legal practices. Notably, their efforts have led to some success in obtaining exonerations for wrongfully convicted individuals, highlighting the systemic flaws that can result in racially biased death penalty sentences (Radelet & Akers, 1996).
In community mobilization efforts, the ACLU has also partnered with various civil rights organizations to promote legislative reforms aimed at abolishing the death penalty or addressing racial bias within the system. An essential component of their advocacy includes supporting initiatives designed to provide better legal assistance to underrepresented populations (Franklin, 2021). By focusing on education, litigation, and policy reform, the ACLU strives to rectify the inequities that afflict the American criminal justice system.
Argument for ACLU's Position
In my opinion, the ACLU is indeed on the right side of the racial disparities issue related to the death penalty. Their commitment to advocating for racial equality and justice aligns with the core tenets of American democracy and the belief that all individuals, regardless of their race or socioeconomic status, deserve equal protection under the law. The persistence of racial bias in capital punishment cases is a clear violation of civil liberties and highlights the need for systemic change.
Moreover, the ACLU’s efforts in addressing the racial disparities in the death penalty illuminate broader issues of racial injustice that extend beyond mere legal representation. They link the death penalty to historical injustices such as slavery, segregation, and ongoing systemic racism. By advocating against the death penalty, the ACLU addresses not only specific instances of injustice but also the societal structures that allow such injustices to manifest.
In addition, the moral implications of upholding capital punishment in the face of such biases bring attention to the flaws within the justice system. By striving to abolish the death penalty or mitigate its effects, the ACLU encourages a broader conversation about justice, rehabilitation, and the dignity of human life (Steiker & Steiker, 2018).
In conclusion, the ACLU's position on racial disparities and the death penalty is not only justified but essential in the fight for civil liberties and human rights. Racial bias not only undermines the legitimacy of the criminal justice system but also reflects a troubling reality about the state of equality in America. The efforts of the ACLU are crucial in paving the way for a more equitable, just society where the principles of fairness and justice are truly upheld, making them a necessary advocate in addressing this profound civil liberties issue.
References
1. ACLU. (2023). Racial Disparities in the Death Penalty. Retrieved from https://www.aclu.org/issues/capital-punishment/racial-disparities
2. Bowers, W. J. (2019). The Role of Race in Death Qualification: An Empirical Study of Capital Jurors. The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, 109(3), 667-706.
3. Franklin, A. (2021). Legal Representation in Death Penalty Cases: Issues and Solutions. American Journal of Criminal Law, 48(2), 123-145.
4. Harris, A. (2021). The Intersection of Race, Poverty, and the Death Penalty. Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Justice, 7(1), 37-55.
5. Radelet, M. L., & Akers, R. L. (1996). Biological Basis of Criminal Behavior: Implications for Understanding Race, Class, and Crime. Social Science Research, 25(3), 223-249.
6. Steiker, C. S., & Steiker, J. M. (2018). The American Death Penalty and the Abolitionist Movement. Journal of Criminal Law & Criminology, 108(4), 699-742.
7. Equal Justice Initiative. (2022). The Case Against the Death Penalty. Retrieved from https://eji.org/death-penalty
8. Amnesty International. (2023). Death Penalty: Facts and Figures. Retrieved from https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/death-penalty/
9. National Academy of Sciences. (2018). The Growth of the Death Penalty in America: Implications and Perspectives. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115(49), 12357-12364.
10. Roberts, P. (2019). Racial Disparities in the U.S. Criminal Justice System: A National Report. U.S. Department of Justice. Retrieved from https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/252000.pdf