Race and Justice

Interesting article on racial discrepancies and the law over at AlterNet today. 

Blacks Who "Stand Their Ground" Are Often Imprisoned

Defendants in Florida who employ the “Stand Your Ground” defense are more successful when white and when victim is black.

Zenitha Prince

An analysis conducted by the Tampa Bay Times last year showed that defendants in Florida who employ the “Stand Your Ground” defense are more successful when the victim is Black. In its examination of 200 applicable cases, the Times found that 73 percent of those who killed a Black person were acquitted, compared to 59 percent of those who killed a White.
Similarly, an analysis of Supplemental Homicide Reports submitted by local law enforcement to the FBI between 2005 and 2010 demonstrates that in cases with a Black shooter and a White victim, the rate of justifiable homicide rulings is about 1 percent. However, if the shooter is White and the victim is Black, it is ruled justified in 9.5 percent of cases in non-Stand Your Ground (SYG) states.
In SYG states, the rate is even higher—almost 17 percent, according to John Roman of the Urban Institute.