Profile of a Crime

John MacDonald sheds light on the Trayvon Martin case and the impact it's making on the public.

The Trayvon Martin case is the latest chapter in a difficult story of race, crime and justice in America, as John MacDonald, Associate Professor and Chair of Criminology, will tell you. MacDonald, whose research has included studies of how race and ethnicity impact the ways our criminal justice system responds to crime, shares some observations on the case and the public’s reaction to it.

How would you describe the impact of race in the Trayvon Martin case?

What factors do you think have contributed to the strength of the public response?

One of your research projects focused on racial bias in police officers. Can you tell us what some of your key findings were?

What are some other findings from your research that are informing your understanding of the Trayvon Martin case?

Do you believe this case will have an impact on Stand Your Ground laws?

 

By Brea Stover