How Criminology Addresses Issues of Equity and Fairness

Misguided as some might be, notions of equity and fairness have been baked into legal and justice systems since the dawn of human history. Our strong feelings about these values have shaped the fields of criminal justice and criminology as we know them.

However, you only have to pick up a daily newspaper to see that equity and fairness remain some of the most contentious issues in today's criminal justice system. Why do Americans face such extraordinary challenges in these areas when the concept of equality among all people is so foundational to our core national values?

As more and more criminology students and recent graduates grapple with this question, the fight to further equity and fairness has taken center stage in criminal justice. Read on to learn more about the power of criminologists to make a real difference.

Decoding Criminology and Its Role in Society

While perceived deficits in equity and fairness remain big problems and hot-button issues in criminal justice, new graduates in the field of criminology can be part of the solution. After all, criminologists within the justice system and elsewhere are uniquely positioned to shape how criminal suspects are treated and how criminal justice is dispensed in the United States. Because one of the intrinsic goals of the criminal justice system is to codify notions of right and wrong, a focus on fairness is essential to ensure that all US citizens receive equal treatment under the law.

The Intersection of Criminology, Equity and Fairness

To begin our brief look at the place of equity and fairness in criminology, let’s start with the origins of the word “criminology” itself. As the scholarly sociology and criminology website SozTheo points out, the Latin root of this word shows that the worlds of criminology, equity, and fairness, have been intertwined from the very beginning.

“The Latin word crimen, however, not only stands for crime, but can also be translated as accusation (it is derived from cernere – select, decide -),” writes SozTheo contributor Dr. Christian Wickert. “Criminology therefore deals not only with behaviors that we perceive as crimes, but also with the question of which behavior, when and why are perceived as criminal.”

In modern American society, we generally expect the criminal justice system to provide fair and equal treatment to all. As the Criminal Justice Alliance (CJA) puts it, “criminal justice agencies must ensure all individuals have an equal opportunity to thrive, regardless of their age, race, sex, religion or any other protected characteristic.”

How Criminology Addresses Issues of Equality

Despite the pronounced emphasis on equality in the criminal justice system, it remains a serious issue today. In the words of the CJA, “numerous landmark reviews have found that certain groups face poorer outcomes in the criminal justice system than their peers.”

While experts differ in their proposed solutions to common equality problems in the criminal justice system, the Harvard Gazette contributor Ana Billingsley reports a consensus in certain areas. “We know what some of the solutions are: connect people to resources that address their underlying needs instead of locking them up; allow those who can’t afford bail to return to their families and jobs instead of awaiting trial in jail; dispatch trained professionals like social workers to appropriate 911 calls instead of police officers,” she writes. “But what’s not always clear is the how. How can under-resourced governments shift to these new systems — and how can they demonstrate that reforms are resulting in better and more just outcomes?”

How Criminology Addresses Issues of Fairness

Many fundamental issues of equality in criminal justice might be solved by paying more stringent attention to fundamental issues of fairness. The power of fairness is a central concept in the procedural justice reform movement. Also known as procedural fairness, this movement emphasizes public perceptions of fairness in criminal justice processes (for example, how they were treated) rather than perceived levels of fairness in individual outcomes. The procedural justice field has determined that people generally feel that the criminal justice process is fair if they can tell their side of the story, they are treated with respect, the decision-making processes are neutral, and the law enforcement professionals are invested in their well-being. It is also important to ensure that all procedural and decision-making processes within the criminal justice system are well explained.

The Impact of Extreme Sentencing on Equity and Fairness

While their connection to problems of equity and fairness have been recognized long before, harsh prison sentences underwent particular scrutiny during the presidential administration of Barack Obama in the mid-2010s. Referencing problematic sentencing inequalities along racial lines, among others, the Obama administration released an official White House fact sheet that read, “Unwarranted disparities and unduly harsh sentences undermine trust in the rule of law and offend the basic principles of fairness and justice.” Combatting unfair sentencing standards is one way new criminology graduates can bring greater equity to the criminal justice system.

Challenging Racial Disparities Through Criminology

As stated in the Vera Institute’s 2018 report, An Unjust Burden: The Disparate Treatment of Black Americans in the Criminal Justice System, “racial disparities in the criminal justice system are no accident, but rather are rooted in a history of oppression and discriminatory decision making that have deliberately targeted black people and helped create an inaccurate picture of crime that deceptively links them with criminality.” Despite the deeply ingrained nature of these disparities, many state governments, federal agencies, and venerable institutions are beginning to address them through the field of criminology. “Throughout the nation, people of color are far more likely to enter the nation’s justice system than the general population,” states the National Conference of State Legislatures. “State and federal governments are aware of this disparity, and researchers and policymakers are studying the drivers behind the statistics and what strategies might be employed to address the disparities, ensuring evenhanded processes at all points in the criminal justice system.”

The Role of New Graduates in Addressing Equity and Fairness in Criminology

While the coming of new generations doesn’t always go hand in hand with social progress, young criminology professionals are increasingly committed to addressing issues of equity and fairness in the modern criminal justice system.

What Are the Opportunities for New Graduates in Criminology?

In terms of employment growth, criminology-related sectors are expected to expand through 2032. These projections come from the authoritative US Bureau of Labor Statistics, which projects a 5 percent increase in job prospects for criminology graduates working in sociology and a 3 percent increase for law enforcement positions such as police officers and detectives. Because there will always be a societal need for public safety, professional positions for criminology graduates are unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

How Can New Graduates Contribute to Equity and Fairness in Criminology?

The impact you can make in the field of criminology will depend entirely on the direction you choose to take in your education and career, the extent of your career path and your overall sphere of influence. But people who want to make the criminal justice system fairer and more equitable can orchestrate countless opportunities if they prioritize these values in their daily work. The relatively wide professional purview and diverse skills of criminologists place them in a unique position to engender change and make a real difference. As noted in the clinical study resource Research.com, “[criminology] professionals are required to use their knowledge of sociology, psychology, law, political science, and similar fields.”

For More Information

Criminologists with a degree from an accredited institution like the University of Memphis can pursue careers in many different areas of the criminal justice field. The Bachelor of Arts degree through our Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice draws upon the latest practical research and academic thought to tackle subjects that range from street violence and policing strategies to corrections processes and capital punishment.