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How the Racial Justice Act Could Shake Up California’s Criminal Court System
Description
This episode contains explicit language.
Race has been a mostly silent character in criminal courtrooms. Historically, people accused of crimes haven’t been able to raise claims of racial bias in the justice system to defend themselves from a criminal accusation.
But in 2020, California passed the Racial Justice Act, a groundbreaking law that allows criminal defendants to argue that racism may have played a role in how the justice system handled their case and ask for the court to provide a remedy. It’s the first law of its kind in the nation.
KQED’s Annelise Finney explains how one case in Contra Costa County is testing the limits of the new law.
Links:
- Episode Transcript
- California's Groundbreaking Racial Justice Act Cuts Its Teeth in Contra Costa
- Judge Finds 8 Antioch Police Officers Tainted by Racial Bias, Reduces Criminal Charges
This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca, Ellie Prickett-Morgan, and Ericka Cruz Guevarra. It was edited and guest hosted by Alan Montecillo.
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