Diversity in the Criminal Justice System

December 1, 2012

TOPIC: Native Americans and the Criminal Justice System

Native Americans in the United States have reported to come from many different tribes. American Indians are likely to experience violent crimes at more than twice the rate of all other U.S. residents. The rate of violent crimes committed against Native Americans is substantially higher than any other minority group in the United States. Yet, little or no attention is paid to them. According to information collected by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), American Indians are likely to experience violent crimes at more than twice the rate of all other U.S. residents. While Native Americans have a rich cultural
It is understandable why many Indian Americans hate the American culture and dislike the American government. As far back as history goes, they were always mistreated by the government, treating them as though they were not just as human as everyone else.
Native Americans are disproportionately represented as offenders in the U.S. criminal justice system, particularly in the southwestern and north-central regions. Furthermore, there has been little acknowledgement of the positive contributions of Native Americans to the criminal justice system in terms of rehabilitating offenders, aiding victims and supporting service providers. This can be one of the leading reasons for Natives turning into offenders. Another possible explanation may be the frustration felt by young Indians who face a future they believe id filled with a lack of opportunity and hopelessness. Robert Merton came up with the theory that normlessness or anomie was an explanation for delinquent behavior. He believed that in order to achieve wealth and status, illegal means may be utilized. One manner by which to achieve status is to become a member of a gang. However, most tribal communities surveyed by the OJJDP, “reported no gang related homicides during 2000, and few Indian country comparison sample respondents indicated more than one gang-related homicide” (Major et al.2004,8). Most violence in tribal communities appears to be the result of