Multiculturalism and diversity have a profound impact on the criminal justice systems. Having people with diverse background can provide a differing perception on issues within the community and the criminal justice system. No matter what philosophical approach the organization follows, having a diverse background can bring new insights to the organization. Having people of differing cultures and diversity within the criminal justice system can help build upon the perception the criminal justice system treats all fairly and criminal law is equally applied to everyone (Cassidy, 2015). The perception of the criminal justice system treating everyone fairly will help garner support from the public. The support of the public will help shape the philosophical approach the organization has made and provide feedback on what the organizations are doing. If the approach is the best for the community, the community will react positively with the decision the organization had made.

The main goal of a criminal justice system is to treat everyone fairly and work together to achieve a safe society. Having a multicultural and diverse organization will help achieve that goal. But to achieve a better understanding of diversity and differing culture, the organization has to hire more people from diverse background and differing cultures. Stacey (2017) found in her study, it is not good enough to have courses on diversity and multiculturalism. Just conducting courses will not change people’s perception and views on topics. People need to have interactions with those of differing background and those from different cultures to have a better understanding of their differences.

Those interactions can change the views of those within the organization and help foster new ideas. These new ideas can bring changes to the criminal justice organization. The changes can help bring justice and fairness to those in the criminal justice organization. But to help bring in diversity, current methods of recruitment need to change. Wilson, Wilson, and Gwann (2016) found in their study current methods of recruitment will not attract the needed diversity and multiculturalism needed in the criminal justice system. The current methodologies and culture of policing only helps to maintain the status quo in recruiting. More outreach is needed to promote themselves to the communities they serve. The closer the make-up of the organization is to the community the better the organization will understand the community. Everyone just wants to be treated fairly. In Matthew 7:12, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Having a diverse organization will allow people to treat others the way they want to be treated. Knowing and understanding different cultures will help them understand what philosophy best work in the community will they serve in.

Reference

Cassidy, M. (2015). Promoting Diversity in the Criminal Justice System. Boston Bar Journal, 59(2)

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Stacy, M. (2017). Diversity Course Effectiveness Among Criminal Justice Students. Journal of

Criminal Justice Education, 29(3) 436-455

Wilson, C., Wilson, S., and Gwann, W. (2016). Identifying Barriers to Diversity in Law

Enforcement Agencies. Journal of Ethnicity in Criminal Justice, 14(4) 231-253