Sentencing Disparities in the United States
Implications of a Second Trump Administration
Abstract
The United States has historically faced sentencing disparities that stem from racial, socioeconomic, and geographic factors, creating unequal treatment within the criminal justice system. The article analyzes current sentencing disparity conditions with an emphasis on racial and ethnic disparities while assessing how another Trump presidency could influence these patterns. Based on literature reviews and government reports, the paper presents evidence that Trump administration policies and their associated rhetoric might worsen current disparities through stricter sentencing practices alongside reduced enforcement of federal sentencing guidelines and reversal of criminal justice reforms. The paper ends by suggesting strategies to address these disparities amid possible policy changes.
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