Insights on justice and race

Overview

Building on HPIO’s Connections between Criminal Justice and Health policy brief released in June, this brief highlights the many ways that racism impacts criminal justice outcomes, finding that:

• Disparities in the criminal justice system are not inevitable, and although unjust biases, policies and structures exist, improvement is possible.
• Ohioans of color experience barriers to justice stemming from a long history of racism in the criminal justice system that casts a shadow over modern policymaking.
• Public and private stakeholders can take meaningful action to eliminate racism in the criminal justice system and improve health, safety and well-being for every Ohioan.

What's included

The brief includes recommendations and additional resources focused on:

• Acknowledging individual bias and perceptions of behavior
• Improving institutional policies and procedures
• Reforming structures and systems

3 Key findings for policymakers

• Disparities in the criminal justice system are not inevitable, and although unjust biases, policies and structures exist, improvement is possible.
• Ohioans of color experience barriers to justice stemming from a long history of racism in the criminal justice system that casts a shadow over modern policymaking.
• Public and private stakeholders can take meaningful action to eliminate racism in the criminal justice system and improve health, safety and well-being for every Ohioan.

More resources

• Facts & Figures (PowerPoint data graphics from the report for public use)
• Connections between Criminal Justice and Health
• Connections between criminal justice and health: Pretrial incarceration and the bail system
• Connections between racism and health: Taking action to eliminate racism and advance equity
• HPIO health equity work
• Resource page: Action steps to eliminate racism and advance equity
• Equity resource page