Affirmative Action Policy vs. Anti-Affirmative Action

    This is a great and intricate policy to explore.  It allows one to look at the history of how affirmative action was formed and why.  It is also crucial to understand the effects it has in a direct relationship on the criminal justice system.  The other side will also be delved into as one looks at the other perspective on how others view affirmative action as preferential treatment.  Others feel that this is not equal rights but giving others preferential treatment.  There are both sides with their own perspectives to be explored compared and contrasted.

    The Affirmative Policy came out of an era when there was racial discrimination for women, Afro-American, and minorities. There was a great deal of injustice occurring.  There was racial discrimination in the rights of Afro-Americans to have the same equal rights as whites without segregation. The Civil Rights movement was a driving force behind the Affirmative action Policy. They needed a voice and they made a collective effort to be heard and indeed they were heard.  Thus the Affirmative Action policy was a tool.  This allowed for equal opportunities for minorities.  They should have a chance for the same education and pursuit of jobs. There are legal implications as well.  That is why there was the American Civil Liberties Union.  They serve to protect the rights of people who often are discriminated against.  According to the American Civil Liberties Union,

“The racial justice program actively supports affirmative action to secure racial diversity.. to remedy…discrimination…”(http://www.aclu.org/racialjustice/aa/index.html)  Basically this about social injustice.  It also has spread to the criminal justice system.  A great example is a black man and a white man is both arrested for the same crime.  The white man may receive probation while the black man often would receive a harsher penalty that the other man arrested, as he may receive the maximum time in prison for his offense. This is about people being singled out to be discriminated against based on their sex, ethnic background.  The criminal justice system has been filled with a higher proportionate population of black inmates versus white inmates in the correctional facilities.