Washington Courts: Press Release DetailPerceiving Justice: Public invited to hear research, discuss fairness of justice system June 9June 04, 2014
The Washington State Minority & Justice Commission invites the public to a presentation and open discussion of the perceived fairness of Washington’s justice system on June 9 from 8:30 a.m. to noon in Olympia.
The presentation, “Perceptions of Justice,” will focus on a recent survey asking state residents of different racial and ethnic groups their experiences with law enforcement agencies and courts, and their perceptions of fair treatment by both. Researchers will present their findings and open the forum to questions and discussion.
The presentation will take place at the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) auditorium at 1115 Washington St. in Olympia. The event is free and a light box lunch and informal discussion will follow. Registration is requested by emailing Cynthia.delostrinos@courts.wa.gov.
The 2012 survey asked more than 1,500 Washington residents about their personal experiences with police officers and courts, about their own community’s problems and experiences, and about their general assessments of the justice system’s fairness. The survey also examined perceived causes of unequal treatment in the system. All responses were broken down by racial and ethnic backgrounds of the respondents.
In the survey, minority groups perceived disrespectful treatment by the police and the courts at higher levels, with African Americans reporting the highest level, followed by Latinos. All respondents reported perceiving injustice within the system and expressed cynicism about the justice system’s ability to treat citizens fairly and equally.
The report found that people who perceive the justice system as unfair tend to be more cynical about those who work within the system, questioning their actions and the extent to which they are capable of carrying out their duties fairly.
The Commission will report its findings to the Supreme Court and work to develop projects in response.
“The report provides an excellent opportunity for us to continue our work toward enhancing confidence in our courts,” said new state Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu, co-chair of the Minority & Justice Commission. “We look forward to working collaboratively with all of the other entities in our criminal justice system on improving the delivery of justice and addressing these findings on how the wider community experiences us.”
The Washington State Minority & Justice Commission was established by the state Supreme Court in 1990 to determine whether racial and ethnic bias exists in the courts of Washington and to take creative steps to overcome and prevent it. The Commission grew out of a task force established in 1988 at the urging of state legislators. The Commission members include judges, lawyers and representatives of government agencies and community groups.
CONTACT: Danielle Pugh-Markie, manager, Washington State Minority & Justice Commission, (360) 705-5290; Lorrie Thompson, communications officer, Administrative Office of the Courts, (360) 705-5347.
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