We are excited to announce that the beta version of our new tool for exploring racial disparities in the criminal justice system under the California Racial Justice Act (CRJA) is now live at rja.paperprisons.org!
You can start using the tool immediately to access and analyze data on arrests, charges, convictions, and sentencing across counties in California. Please feel free to share the tool in your networks.
The California Racial Justice Act, enacted in 2020 and amended in 2022, provides a mechanism for defendants to challenge charges, convictions, or sentences that are obtained in a racially disparate manner. Our tool helps to identify and understand these disparities by offering comprehensive data and customizable queries.
Key Features:
· Explore data on arrests, court actions, convictions (including misdemeanors and felonies), and sentencing (including incarceration and prison sentences).
· Customize your queries by year, county, event point, race/ethnicity, and offense.
· Access raw numbers, rates per population, and population disparity comparisons.
· Utilize the comprehensive dataset sourced from the California Department of Justice Automated Criminal History System (ACHs) (2010-2021).
This tool is currently in its beta version and undergoing testing and we are adding features. Explore the tool, share your feedback, and stay on the list of updates by emailing us at rja@paperprisons.org “SUBSCRIBE.”
We also encourage you to read our two papers, which provide further context and insights:
· The Paper Prisons Racial Justice Act Data Tool, 29 Berkeley J. Crim. L. 29 (2024).
We hope this tool will be a valuable resource for researchers, students, legal professionals, and advocates working to advance racial justice in the criminal legal system.
Thank you for your support!
