ABSTRACT
Among the countries profiled in this book, the United States represents the one that has likely had the most scholarly attention devoted to the issue of race, ethnicity, crime, and justice. Diverse groups such as Native Americans, African-Americans, White ethnic immigrants, Latinos, and Asians, have all, at some point, been the “criminal justice problem” in the country. However, over the last century, no racial minority has received more scholarly attention than African-Americans. The chapter begins with a review of the early and contemporary history of the United States, highlighting the experiences of racial and ethnic minorities. This history is rife with connections to the colonial model. Beginning with Native Americans, colonization left its distinctive and repressive mark on several American racial and ethnic groups. This mark is evidenced by those citizens who are currently overrepresented in the American criminal justice system. The chapter reviews the nature and scope of this over representation.
