Criminal Justice Timeline by Wilwerding, Hans

1215

24hwilwerding — 2024-02-22 17:50:27 UTC

This document established the principle that no one, including the king or government, is above the law. It laid the foundation for legal rights and due process

1789

24hwilwerding — 2024-02-22 17:50:36 UTC

The Constitution of the United States established the framework for the federal government and outlined the powers and responsibilities of each branch, including the judiciary system

1865

24hwilwerding — 2024-02-22 18:03:52 UTC

Abolished slavery in the United States, impacting the criminal justice system by ending the legal basis for enslavement and shaping the treatment of former slaves within the legal system

1896

24hwilwerding — 2024-02-22 18:05:37 UTC

Established the "separate but equal" doctrine, allowing for racial segregation in public facilities, including within the criminal justice system, perpetuating racial discrimination and unequal treatment

1955

24hwilwerding — 2024-02-22 18:09:18 UTC

The murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till in brought nationwide attention to the racial violence and injustice prevalent in Mississippi and the South

1964

24hwilwerding — 2024-02-22 18:10:01 UTC

Outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, prohibiting unequal treatment within the criminal justice system and addressing issues such as voter discrimination and racial segregation

1971

24hwilwerding — 2024-02-22 18:18:57 UTC

President Richard Nixon officially declared drug abuse as "public enemy number one" and called for an "all-out offensive" against illicit drugs, marking the beginning of the modern War on Drugs

1975

24hwilwerding — 2024-02-22 18:23:06 UTC

The era of mass incarceration began. This rapid growth in the nation's prison population was a deliberate policy

2018

24hwilwerding — 2024-02-22 18:25:32 UTC

This bipartisan criminal justice reform bill aimed to address issues such as mandatory minimum sentences, rehabilitation programs, and reentry services, marking a shift towards a more rehabilitative approach to incarceration

2020

24hwilwerding — 2024-02-22 18:28:19 UTC

The killing of George Floyd by police officers in Minneapolis sparked nationwide protests against police brutality and systemic racism in the criminal justice system, leading to renewed calls for police reform, racial justice, and accountability