One late night in 2007 I was driving in Detroit when my oil light came on. To illustrate this welter of uncertainty, consider the following anecdote related by the philosopher Elizabeth Anderson:
#SHADOWS OF DOUBT SKIN#
Americans draw many inferences from bodily features like skin color, hair texture, and eye shape that are markers of race today, and they know that everyone else around them is also drawing inferences from these features in predictable ways.
When thinking about crime and punishment in modern America, one cannot escape the question of race. Mutual uncertainty can lead groups of people to do things that they would never do if they confronted their doubts alone. And the officer must interpret the driver’s behavior with this mental process in mind. The motorist who is pulled over must think about what the officer might be thinking and attempt to react in ways that keep the interaction brief and safe. Moreover, people are aware that others are also groping for answers as they confront their own doubts, and take this into account when interacting with strangers. All of these decisions are made deep in the shadows of doubt. And judges and parole boards are often expected to estimate what crimes a defendant might commit in the future if permitted to be free. Jurors make up their minds about whether laws were broken without ever hearing complete stories. Prosecutors and defense attorneys wonder about the inclinations of potential jurors when choosing whom to strike from the jury pool. Police officers make judgments about the likelihood of contraband recovery when deciding on a stop or search, and about the danger to themselves and others when contemplating the use of force. Witnesses need to consider the consequences for their own safety and social relations if they cooperate with law enforcement officials.
#SHADOWS OF DOUBT HOW TO#
Potential victims make guesses about how to avoid becoming targets, and must quickly choose how to respond if they guess wrong. Offenders often decide on targets without knowing whether their victims will resist or retaliate. Gallagher ContentsĬrime and punishment are both accompanied by a great deal of uncertainty. In memory of Marjorie Miller and Patrick J. | Discrimination in law enforcement-United States.Ĭlassification: LCC HV9950. | Stereotypes (Social psychology)-United States.
Subjects: LCSH: Discrimination in criminal justice administration-United States. | Includes bibliographical references and index. Title: Shadows of doubt : stereotypes, crime, and the pursuit of justice / Brendan O’Flaherty, Rajiv Sethi.ĭescription: Cambridge, Massachusetts : Harvard University Press, 2019. The Library of Congress has cataloged the printed edition as follows: Jacket photograph: Alex Linch / Shutterstock Stereotypes, Crime, and the Pursuit of JusticeĬopyright © 2019 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College
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