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America in Black and White: Criminal Justice

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15/02/2016

Criminal Justice

BBC Radio 4 - America in Black and White, Criminal Justice

Rajini Vaidyanathan investigates race and the criminal justice system in the US.

Rajini Vaidyanathan investigates race and the criminal justice system in the US, examining the statistics and hearing stories of those involved in the system.

Protests against shootings of young black men by the police have pushed the issue of race to the top of the public agenda in the United States. Now BBC Washington correspondent Rajini Vaidyanathan, who has covered many of the recent protests, sets out to examine some of the deep, underlying structural issues which America still has with race.

In this first episode, Rajini investigates the criminal justice system. She examines the statistics and hears stories of those involved in the system. She speaks to liberal activists opposed to what they call the system of 'mass incarceration', and in Nebraska visits the conservative politician promoting laws to reduce the number of people behind bars. "Will that help black Americans?" she asks him. His reply? "I hope so." 

Elsewhere she hears from protesters arguing that the system can never be reformed, and that the police need to be disarmed. She visits the retired police chief advising President Obama on the way forward, who acknowledges the problem but argues that "all black lives matter", including those killed by criminals, and that protesters must accept that the police are part of the solution. He has now been hired to help Chicago's troubled force improve its record.

Rajini also spends time with the police force teaching all its officers how to be 'ethical protectors'.

Producer: Giles Edwards.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Rajini Vaidyanathan examines some of the underlying issues that America has with race.

Rajini Vaidyanathan examines some of the deep, underlying structural issues that America still has with race.

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