LESSON PLAN: Implicit Bias and the Criminal Justice System

Megan Crenshaw

Street Law Model Lesson Plan:

March 4th 2014

LESSON PLAN: Implicit Bias and the Criminal Justice System

Time: 50 minutes

Materials Needed:

1. Note cards (two for each student),

2. Opinion Poll worksheet (one for each student)

3. Five Opinion Poll Station Signs: “Strongly Agree,” “Agree,” “Undecided,”

“Disagree,” and “Strongly Disagree” (Brightly colored signs are recommended)

4. Slideshow projector,

5. Implicit Bias Powerpoint,

6. Whiteboard,

7. Whiteboard markers

8. Internet Access

GOALS:

Teach students about implicit bias and the effect it can have on our criminal justice system.
Teach students how to critically analyze verdicts and statistics in light of the impact of implicit biases.
Help students learn how to identify their own implicit biases and combat the effects of implicit biases.

OBJECTIVES:

KNOWLEDGE:

What is implicit bias?
How does it impact each of us?
How does it impact our justice system?
How is implicit bias reflected by statistics relating to our criminal justice system?
What are the current safeguards in place?

SKILLS:

Critically thinking and analyzing societal issues.
Speaking in front of peers and clearly articulating thoughts.
Self-assessment and reflection.

ATTITUDE:

Implicit bias impacts all of us, every day.
These biases are often reflected in our criminal justice system.
Acknowledging and understanding these biases is the first step to addressing them.

CLASSROOM PREPARATION

1. Distribute class materials BEFORE class begins.

a. Each student should receive:

i. Two notecards

ii. One opinion poll worksheet

2. Place the five Opinion Poll Station Signs in different locations around the room. Make sure the signs will be visible for the entire class.

3. Pull up the Implicit Bias slideshow on your classroom computer.

The slideshow follows the order of the classroom activities. It is recommended to review the slideshow before beginning today’s lesson.

4. Pull up the “What would you do? Bike Thief” video in a separate window on the classroom computer.

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES:

1. The Opinion Poll Worksheet: (3 min)

a. Inform the class that you will be completing an opinion poll today to find out their views on a number of different issues.

b. Instruct the class to silently complete their opinion poll worksheet.

i. Names are not required.

ii. They should answer with the first answer that comes to mind.

2. The Opinion Poll Activity:(10 minutes)

You will only be going through the first three opinion poll questions at this time. (Spend roughly 2-3 minutes per question)

a. Explain to the class that during this activity, you will read each statement on the Opinion Poll worksheet out loud. After you have read the statement, they should move to stand beneath the Opinion Poll Station Sign that corresponds with the answer they chose on their worksheet.

i. Begin the slideshow. The first Opinion Poll statement should be on the slide.

b. Read the first statement: “An attractive person will always be hired before a less attractive, but equally qualified person.”

i. After each student has moved to stand beneath the station sign that corresponds with their answer, ask one or more of the following questions:

1. Why did you choose to stand where you are?

2. What makes you feel so strongly/what prevented you from taking a strong stance?

3. Would anything cause you to move to another area?

4. How would you respond to what X group just said?

ii. Try to call on at least 3 different groups to explain their response. If you have more time, ask additional questions.

c. After you conclude the discussion for this statement, pull up the slide show to reveal the actual statistics relating to the statement in question.Sources for statistics are included in the “notes” portion of the slide.

i. Ask the students for their thoughts on the actual statistics. Were they surprised? Disappointed?etc.

d. Repeat this process until you have completed the first FOUR Opinion Poll questions OR you have exceeded the allotted amount of time for this portion of the class.

3. Defining Implicit Bias (5 min)

a. Have the students return to their seats.

b. Ask: Why do you think these are the statistics? Do we consciously think certain individuals are bettered prepared, more intelligent, more deserving?

i. Can use as a rhetorical question, or get a few brief student comments.

c. Explain to the students that the ideas they’ve touched on and the statistics they just learned about all relate to implicit bias.

d. Return to the Implicit Bias Slideshow, and begin walking through the “Implicit Bias” and “Key Characteristics” slides.

i. You can read the definitions yourself or ask the students to read them depending on the level of classroom engagement.

ii. Ask the students to explain what each point means and give you some examples if possible.

4. Implicit Bias and Perceptions of Crime: “The Bike Thief” Activity. (5 min)

a. Explain that now the class will take a look at how these implicit biases might impact the perceptions of crime.

b. Return to the slideshow and introduce the Bike thief hypothetical

i. Ask students: “Imagine you’re walking in a public park near Ballard, and saw someone with a saw trying to cut off a bike chain. What would your initial reaction be? What would you think they were doing?”

1. The answers you want the students to come up with are: “I’d think they were stealing it,” and “I’d think they lost their key.”

ii. After you get/lead the students to those answers, move to the next slide, and have students take out one of their note cards.

iii. Tell students to number their notecard from 1-10 and SILENTLY write down a “T” or an “O” for whether they would think the person on the screen is a thief stealing the bike or the owner who had just lost the key?

Show the 10 pictures of peopleon the slideshow for roughly 3 seconds each. (see slideshow)

c. Bike thief discussion:

i. Ask students the following questions and write their answers on the whiteboard:

1. What do you think were some of the factors that made you respond differently?

2. Do you think most of the American population would respond the same way?

5. “What would you do? Bike Thief” video and discussion(14 minutes--12 min video; 2 min brainstorming session)

see slideshow for video link.

a. Without stopping to discuss the video, return to slideshow and reveal the “Lifetime Likelihood of Imprisonment Slide”

Walk through the following explanations and question.

i. Explain: This is a look at the likelihood of imprisonment of several different populations (men, women, blacks, whites, latinos), based on current sentencing statistics and incarceration data.

ii. Explain: there are multiple reasons that could explain the big differences between the imprisonment rates of different racial groups and genders. Some people even say that certain populations are imprisoned more often because theysimply commit more crimes.

iii. Brainstorm: Ask students: Based on the video you just saw and what you learned about implicit bias, what else do you think could be happening? (Write answers on whiteboard)

1. Answers you could suggest: Maybe they’re committing the same crimes but people are reacting differently, reporting differently, or stopping them fewer times. (Like students saw in the video)

6.The Impact of Implicit Bias on Convictions and Sentencing (10 min- roughly 2-3 min. per question)

a. Transition: Now that we’ve looked at how implicit bias can impact people’s perceptions of crime, let’s look at how it can impact the convictions and sentences they receive.

b. Have everyone stand up again and resume the Opinion Poll.

i. Ask questions 5-7.

i. Repeat the Opinion Poll procedures detailed above (Classroom Activities, 2 a-d)Return to slideshow for official statistics corresponding to each question.

c. Have students return to their seats.

7. How do we combat Implicit Bias? Journal Write (3 min)

a. Return to slideshow, and display image of the statue of justice.

b. Ask students to answer the following questions in journal

i. What did you originally select as your answer to opinion poll statement number 4. “There are fewer females in jail because they commit fewer crimes.”

ii. How did today’s lesson impact your answer? If at all?

iii. How do you think our society can get closer to achieving truly blind justice for all?

Additional time remaining?

8. Discuss the Journal Write

a. Ask students what their ideas are for achieving blind justice for all.

b. Give examples of what is currently taking place:

i. Education and awareness: Some states offer special training for judges, prosecuting attorneys, and police officers.

ii. Sentencing reform: Some states have set mandatory and minimum sentencing guidelines for specific crimes in order to prevent judges from arbitrarily applying the law.

Opinion Poll Worksheet

1. An attractive person will always be hired before a less attractive, but equally qualified person.