To the Point
Fear and Bias in the Criminal Justice System
How often do police officers in American cities use deadly force against black men? When killings are justified, what’s the official reason? We look for the answers to those and other questions raised by recent police killings that have sparked widespread outrage against racism in the justice system.
By Warren Olney • • 52m ListenHow often do police officers in American cities use deadly force against black men? When killings are justified, what’s the official reason? We look for the answers to those and other questions raised by recent police killings that have sparked widespread outrage against racism in the justice system. Also, officials warn that torture report could endanger US lives, and the elite attorneys who get their cases heard by the US Supreme Court.
Photo: A police officer pushes back a protester during a demonstration over the grand jury verdict in the shooting death of Michael Brown, in Webster Grove, Missouri, December 2, 2014. (Jim Young/Reuters)
In this episode
3 storiesOfficials Warn that Torture Report Could Endanger US Lives
The US Senate Intelligence Committee is about to release a scathing report on the CIA's so-called "black torture" sites during the Bush Administration. Secretary of State John Kerry reportedly has warned that the information could endanger American hostages overseas. But today, White House Press Secretary Josh Ernst gave it a thumbs up.
Read the story6 minFear and Bias from the Streets to the Courtroom
Since white police officers recently killed unarmed black men and boys in New York, Cleveland and Ferguson, Missouri, street protests have continued around the country and put America’s justice system on trial. There’s unequal treatment not just in the use of force but also the power of prosecutors to racially profile criminal suspects.
Read the story35 minSupreme Court Docket Dominated by Elite Lawyers
In the past nine years some 17,000 lawyers have petitioned the US Supreme Court, but some had a much better chance of getting their cases heard than others. A recent study shows just 66 got 43% of the cases the justices chose to hear.
Read the story8 min
