How the Racial Justice Act Could Shake Up California’s Criminal Court System

This episode contains explicit language.

Race has been a mostly silent character in criminal courtrooms. Historically, people accused of crimes haven’t been able to raise claims of racial bias in the justice system to defend themselves from a criminal accusation.

But in 2020, California passed the Racial Justice Act, a groundbreaking law that allows criminal defendants to argue that racism may have played a role in how the justice system handled their case and ask for the court to provide a remedy. It’s the first law of its kind in the nation.

KQED’s Annelise Finney explains how one case in Contra Costa County is testing the limits of the new law.

Links:

• Episode Transcript
• California's Groundbreaking Racial Justice Act Cuts Its Teeth in Contra Costa
• Judge Finds 8 Antioch Police Officers Tainted by Racial Bias, Reduces Criminal Charges

This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca, Ellie Prickett-Morgan, and Ericka Cruz Guevarra. It was edited and guest hosted by Alan Montecillo.

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