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One of deepest challenges our criminal justice system faces is the Fundamental Attribution Error.
When we do something bad, it is because of a host of contextual factors of which we are well aware.
But when someone else does something bad, it is because they ARE bad.
When we do something bad, it is because of a host of contextual factors of which we are well aware.
But when someone else does something bad, it is because they ARE bad.
It’s an understandable cognitive shortcut.
It’s easy for me to think about all the various reasons—besides “I’m violent”—for why I punched that guy.
But it’s hard for me to know what drove you. Easier to assume it just reflects who you ARE. You just… ARE… dangerous.
It’s easy for me to think about all the various reasons—besides “I’m violent”—for why I punched that guy.
But it’s hard for me to know what drove you. Easier to assume it just reflects who you ARE. You just… ARE… dangerous.
And the less I understand where you come from or what might be motivating your behavior, the stronger we should expect the effect to be.
This why I’m less concerned about diversity among elected DAs, far MORE concerned abt diversity with ASSISTANT DAs.
This why I’m less concerned about diversity among elected DAs, far MORE concerned abt diversity with ASSISTANT DAs.
Krasner, Foxx, Rollins? They will never be sitting opposite a defendant, hammering out a plea deal.
But their ADAs do, daily. The easier it is for them to understand the lived experience of the defendant, the less likely they are to write him off as “bad.”
But their ADAs do, daily. The easier it is for them to understand the lived experience of the defendant, the less likely they are to write him off as “bad.”
