The Quarterly Journal of Judicial Law Views

The Quarterly Journal of Judicial Law Views

An Evaluation of the Stereotypes of Formal Actors of Criminal Justice to Poor Defendants (Case Study of judicial district of Kashan)

Authors
Morteza Arefi 1
Jalil Omidi 2
1 Tarbiat Modares University
2 Tehran University
Abstract
Criminal sociology studies show "Equality before the law" principle that is affected by extra-legal factors, has not been realized in practice. Factors such as gender, race, religion, social class make Wrong beliefs in the mind of criminal justice' actors. These wrong attitudes can be the basis of decision making in the process of criminal justice and effect on the criminal situation of defendants and convictions. The poor because of low income, cover type, style and site residence, employment status and type of dialect and behaviour are in the subject of such stereotypes. This research by adoption a qualitative method and using the instruments such as analyzing criminal records and interviewing with a number of police officers and judges in the judicial district of Kashan, assessments the influence of stereotypes on poor offenders. The findings of this research show that living in poor areas, special cover type and employment of some professions cause negative thinking for police officers and judges and penal punitiveness in general.  
 
Keywords
Stereotype
Police
Judge
Extra- legal factor
Poverty
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