The Case of Racial Inequality in the U.S. Penal System: Substantive Justice and Systemic Discrimination
El Caso de la Desigualdad Racial en el Sistema Penal de EE. UU.: Justicia Sustantiva y Discriminación Sistémica
Keywords:
criminal justice, racial inequality, substantive justice, systemic discrimination, United StatesAbstract
This article examines how persistent racial inequality in the U.S. penal system directly undermines the realization of substantive justice. Through analysis of statistical data, case law, and critical literature, it shows how systemic discrimination disproportionately affects African American and Latino communities in arrests, sentencing, and incarceration conditions. The paper argues that substantive justice requires not only legal reforms, but a structural transformation that addresses the historical and social roots of institutionalized racism. It also explores community and legislative initiatives aimed at correcting these disparities, evaluating their scope and limitations. The article concludes by proposing a multidimensional agenda for change involving social activism, legal education, and state action to ensure genuine penal equity.
Este artículo examina cómo la desigualdad racial persistente en el sistema penal de Estados Unidos representa una amenaza directa a la realización de la justicia sustantiva. A través del análisis de datos estadísticos, jurisprudencia y literatura crítica, se demuestra cómo la discriminación sistémica afecta de manera desproporcionada a las comunidades afroamericanas y latinas en arrestos, sentencias y condiciones penitenciarias. Se argumenta que la justicia sustantiva requiere no solo reformas legales, sino también una transformación estructural que aborde las raíces históricas y sociales del racismo institucionalizado. El artículo explora además iniciativas comunitarias y legislativas que intentan corregir estas disparidades, evaluando su alcance y limitaciones. Finalmente, se propone una agenda multidimensional de cambio que articule el activismo social, la educación jurídica y la acción estatal para garantizar una equidad penal real.
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