India Tonnesen, Undergraduate Criminology student interviews Angela Charles, Criminology Lecturer to explore the topic of fair trials.
India
"How does the question 'does everyone get a fair trial?' influence my study and what should I be aware of as a student?"
Angela
"So, the question influences your study because it poses a question to get you to be more critical of the criminal justice system and to not just accept things for what they are. The question about fair trials and the criminal justice system is exactly what criminology represents. So being critical, assessing things, highlighting the strengths and the weaknesses, looking for methods and ways that society can be better and improve and specifically looking at the ways the criminal justice system can improve."
India
"How does the article "Most judges believe the criminal justice system suffers from racism" from the National Judicial College reflect your own teachings and the University's courses?"
Angela
"So, the article reflects my teaching because it highlights the structural inequalities that individuals face based on their position in society so just by having that darker pigmentation of skin colour, you can be treated differently and receive a harsher punishment. Even if you don’t receive a harsher punishment, it's being stereotyped so someone believing something about you without knowing you as a person and your back story and that doesn't sit right. That reflects what students learn as we discuss types of crimes that are policed more, who is more likely to be policed more and stopped, who is more likely to be stopped and searched, who is more likely to receive a longer sentence, who is more distrustful of the criminal justice system and some of the different reasons for that. So, it fits into the bigger picture of the criminal justice system of what that represents, who it affects and who its failing."
Did you find this question interesting?
If you enjoyed this topic, these are the courses we think would be best suited for you.
BA Criminology
Our BA Criminology degree delves into the world of criminology, exploring areas such as drugs, cybercrime and terrorism. If you have aspirations of working in the criminal justice sector this is the course for you.
Discover moreBA (Hons) Criminology and Policing
Our BA Criminology and Policing degree combines our expertise in contemporary criminology and professional policing, if you aspire for a career within the criminal justice system this is the career for you.
Discover moreExplore other topics within Criminology or go back to our Real World hub.