Unfair : the new science of criminal injustice
(Book)
Author
Published
New York : Crown Publishers, [2015].
Edition
First edition.
Physical Desc
xx, 379 pages ; 24 cm
Status
Moab Library - Adult Non-fiction Book
364.3 BENFORAD
1 available
364.3 BENFORAD
1 available
Description
Loading Description...
Also in this Series
Checking series information...
Copies
Location | Call Number | Status |
---|---|---|
Moab Library - Adult Non-fiction Book | 364.3 BENFORAD | On Shelf |
More Details
Published
New York : Crown Publishers, [2015].
Format
Book
Edition
First edition.
Language
English
Notes
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 293-367) and index.
Description
A child is gunned down by a police officer; an investigator ignores critical clues in a case; an innocent man confesses to a crime he did not commit; a jury acquits a killer. The evidence is all around us: Our system of justice is fundamentally broken. But it’s not for the reasons we tend to think, as law professor Adam Benforado argues in this eye-opening, galvanizing book. Even if the system operated exactly as it was designed to, we would still end up with wrongful convictions, trampled rights, and unequal treatment. This is because the roots of injustice lie not inside the dark hearts of racist police officers or dishonest prosecutors, but within the minds of each and every one of us. This is difficult to accept. Our nation is founded on the idea that the law is impartial, that legal cases are won or lost on the basis of evidence, careful reasoning and nuanced argument. But they may, in fact, turn on the camera angle of a defendant’s taped confession, the number of photos in a mug shot book, or a simple word choice during a cross-examination. In Unfair, Benforado shines a light on this troubling new field of research, showing, for example, that people with certain facial features receive longer sentences and that judges are far more likely to grant parole first thing in the morning. Over the last two decades, psychologists and neuroscientists have uncovered many cognitive forces that operate beyond our conscious awareness. Until we address these hidden biases head-on, Benforado argues, the social inequality we see now will only widen, as powerful players and institutions find ways to exploit the weaknesses of our legal system. Weaving together historical examples, scientific studies, and compelling court cases — from the border collie put on trial in Kentucky to the five teenagers who falsely confessed in the Central Park Jogger case — Benforado shows how our judicial processes fail to uphold our values and protect society’s weakest members. With clarity and passion, he lays out the scope of the legal system’s dysfunction and proposes a wealth of practical reforms that could prevent injustice and help us achieve true fairness and equality before the law.
Reviews from GoodReads
Loading GoodReads Reviews.
Citations
APA Citation, 7th Edition (style guide)
Benforado, A. (2015). Unfair: the new science of criminal injustice (First edition.). Crown Publishers.
Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)Benforado, Adam. 2015. Unfair: The New Science of Criminal Injustice. Crown Publishers.
Chicago / Turabian - Humanities (Notes and Bibliography) Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)Benforado, Adam. Unfair: The New Science of Criminal Injustice Crown Publishers, 2015.
MLA Citation, 9th Edition (style guide)Benforado, Adam. Unfair: The New Science of Criminal Injustice First edition., Crown Publishers, 2015.
Note! Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy. Citation formats are based on standards as of August 2021.
Staff View
Loading Staff View.