ABA Webinar: Overcoming Implicit Bias Against Non-Citizen Defendants

While research has shown tremendous racial discrepancies in the criminal justice system, according to a groundbreaking report published in 2014 entitled, Citizenship and Punishment: The Salience of National Membership in U.S. Criminal Courts, citizenship is more influential than race in determining if a person will go to prison and how long they will be incarcerated in the federal criminal justice system. The study finds that undocumented immigrants are four times more likely to be incarcerated, and spend two to four months longer in jail for the same crimes as citizens. A theory behind these sentencing disparities is a general public perception that immigrants pose threats to public safety and are more likely to commit crimes.

This month’s ABA Free CLE Series will include:

• A discussion of the findings of the report from the author
• Discuss common myths and perceptions about immigrants and the immigration system
• Recommendations for criminal justice stakeholders to eliminate bias against noncitizen defendants in the system

Special Offer – Sign up once for the ABA Free CLE Series – All Access Pass and never worry about missing a registration deadline again.   LEARN MORE

KJ