According to researchers, Black and Latino people make up a disproportionately high percentage of criminal cases.
Study quantifies racial disparities in Massachusetts courts
Credit: WCVB
Duration: 00:50s
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MORE DETAILS AT 5:00.ED: A NEW STUDY BY HARVARD LAWSHINES A LIGHT ON RACIALDISPARITIES IN THE MASSACHUSETTSCOURT SYSTEM.ACCORDING TO RESEARCHERS, BLACKAND LATINO PEOPLE MAKE UP ADISPROPORTIONATELY HIGHPERCENTAGE OF CRIMINAL CASES.IF CONVICTED, THEY’RE GIVENLONGER SENTENCES THAN WHITEDEFENDANTS.BLACK PEOPLE ACCOUNT FOR 6.5% OFTHE STATE’S POPULATION, BUT17.1% OF CRIMINAL COURT CASES.LATINOS ARE 8.7% OF THEMASSACHUSETTS POPULATION, BUTACCOUNT FOR 18.3% OF THE CASES.WHITE PEOPLE, WHO MAKE UP 74% OFTHE MASSACHUSETTS POPULATION,ARE DEFENDANTS IN JUST 58.7% OFCRIMINAL COURT CASES.EVEN AFTER WEIGHING OTHERFACTORS LIKE CRIMINAL RECORD ORTHE SEVERITY OF THE CHARGE, THESTUDY FOUND BLACKS AND LATINOSWERE SENTENCED TO 25 TO 31 DAY