MPR’s Elizabeth Stawicki reports on Minnesota Supreme Court Task Force on Racial Bias in the Judicial System report. Includes commentary from judges Michael Davis and Rosalie Wahl. Justice Alan Page will head an implementation committee to monitor progress.
ELIZABETH STAWIKI: The Report says while there are examples of overt racism, the major problems are subtly embedded in institutional practices. Judge Michael Davis says while the findings won't surprise many minorities, the data prove what many had already concluded.
MICHAEL DAVIS: We're in the state of Minnesota nice, all right? Understand that people here feel that they are not prejudiced, that they are not the bigot, that they go about their lives treating everyone equal. If we were going to do a report, we would have to do it correctly and to substantiate everything that we talk about. What we've done here is a report that substantiates page by page, word by word, sentence by sentence.
ELIZABETH STAWIKI: The report says people of color are twice as likely to be arrested for serious crimes. But once charged, they're twice as likely to have those charges dismissed, meaning there may have been insufficient grounds to arrest them in the first place. The study also finds a pattern of favorable plea bargains for whites. Judge Davis.
MICHAEL DAVIS: We took all the factors, the same crime. So all the excuses are saying, well, he's employed or she's employed and has a family. We ran the statistics the same, and we found that if you're Black or minority and you're employed, your chances of going to jail are greater than that of your white counterpart.
ELIZABETH STAWIKI: In its report, the task force recommended there should be more minority police, judges, attorneys, probation officers, and other criminal justice staff. The report also says the state legislature should require the Sentencing Guidelines Commission to regularly analyze the court system sentencing practices. Justice Rosalie Wall who chaired the 36-member task force says the report should not be viewed as a negative, but by raising awareness, it can be a stepping off point for positive changes in the system.
ROSALIE WALL: None of us who are judges want to be unfair. None of us believe we are. But if in our minds we suddenly think, in this case, am I treating this person exactly as I would treat this person if this person were a person of color? And that's where we've got to work. And that's the long term thing.
ELIZABETH STAWIKI: Chief Justice Sandy Keith says while the changes may not be immediately apparent, they will have a profound effect on the system in the years to come.
SANDY KEITH: And it takes a lot of courage, it takes a lot of guts, it takes people committed to do it. And we're one of the few states that I know can do it. And yes, you got to worry, but I can tell you, it's going to be a better place in five years from now to be a person of color than it is today as far as being involved with the judicial system. I almost guarantee you that.
ELIZABETH STAWIKI: Justice Alan Page will head an implementation committee to monitor progress and to ensure the recommendations are put into action. In addition, each district at the local level will create their own implementation committees beginning with a state conference in three weeks. I'm Elizabeth Stawicki Minnesota Public Radio.
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