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Cultural Diversity in The Criminal Justice System

Public and private organizations have endeavored to make reforms that seek to ensure major cultural diversity and inclusivity. The criminal justice system is no different. These reforms are made in policies implemented for a better future and in the criminal justice system. This paper aims to describe a cultural diversity policy enacted in criminal justice and its profound effect on the juvenile system. Diversity policies are a point of focus that provides evidence for reforms in the juvenile system. Cultural diversity policies play an essential role in organizations because it provides a framework for the inclusion of people from different backgrounds and experiences.

The “Advancing Diversity in Law Enforcement” initiative is in effect at the US Department of Justice. The initiative aims to solve barriers that undermine law enforcement diversity with hiring, recruiting, and retention of a diverse workforce. The initiative in itself takes a broad look at the issues affecting diversity. The initiative encourages the inclusion of people from all racial and ethnic backgrounds. Also, the inclusion of other races helps make sure that the Department of Justice fosters the inclusion of perspectives and experiences of people from diverse racial backgrounds (US Department of Justice, 2016). Moreover, the policy helps ensure law enforcement agencies in the country build a better workforce that will reflect on the diversity of the communities they represent. The initiative also helps in showing the importance of diversity.

The Advancing Diversity in Law Enforcement initiative program has been in effect since 2014, after the collection of data that showed inconsistency in gender and ethnic numbers in law enforcement. Although the initiative was implemented recently, training of diversity in law enforcement started in the 1960s (Hennessy et al., 2001). Through recruitments, the initiative was enacted in 2014 to balance gender and ethnicity in law enforcement. As different cultures in the United States started interacting freely, a policing system was inclusive of all races and ethnicities (US Department of Justice, 2016). Over the years, diversity in law enforcement has become a vital aspect for all.

The “Advancing Diversity in Law Enforcement” initiative works towards equality, fairness, and a just hiring system, recruiting and retaining workers in the criminal justice system. Adhering to these as parameters to follow, the initiative has helped make sure that there is equity in the hiring and retention process in the workplace. Diversity associated with these principles has led to public members believing in representation; therefore, deepening trust while instilling public confidence in the government. Diversity helps in the inclusion of people based on their merits and professional qualifications rather than racial bias. Such faith is critical in diffusing tension and solving crimes in the community, eventually leading to citizens viewing law enforcement as a fair and just system (US Department of Justice, 2016).  Secondly, with increased diversity, law enforcement agencies make more open reforms that spark cultural and systematic changes. An open-minded agency will provide space for reforms that include civilian oversight, reduce racial bias, and increase community policing.

The “Advancing Diversity in Law Enforcement” initiative impacts the juvenile system by ensuring all reforms cut across the board from hiring, recruitment, and retention to how the prosecution is undertaken in the juvenile courts. The enactments of reforms have shown inclusivity because all races are treated fairly (Vergara et al., 2016). Such culturally diverse reforms saw an increase in monitoring minority representation at all stages. These reforms provide a compelling argument for the importance of cultural diversity in the juvenile system.

            The policy could be impactful in the juvenile system because it ensures that the juvenile staff is forced to adopt more reforms geared at promoting cultural diversity. The importance of this implementation is that discrimination will reduce drastically. Minorities deserve fair and equal representation in the juvenile system and a just system that does not discriminate against their cultural or ethnic backgrounds (Vergara et al., 2016). Therefore, diversity would work best in the juvenile system with changes in policies to include representation, proper penalties for all minorities, and cultural inclusivity.

            This policy will make the criminal justice system processes and procedures more diverse because it promotes a fairer and just system. The implementation of the diversity policy helps in earning public trust. The increased inclusion of residents fosters faith in the residents in the juvenile system. The performance of cultural diversity in the juvenile system will change people’s perception. (Flavin, 2018). Also, diversity will decrease the stereotypical notions of race superiority and guide how people of all ethnic backgrounds are hired, recruited, and retained. 

In conclusion, cultural diversity policies should be implemented in all criminal justice system agencies, especially the juvenile system. Each criminal justice system agency is a reflective tool because it comprises of people from different backgrounds and experiences. Diversity is essential in earning public trust and changing the perception that citizens have of the juvenile system. Such a policy will work effectively in instilling public confidence in the government systems and agencies, such as the juvenile system.