Race, crime, and justice are inextricably linked in the minds of most Americans. Perceptions of the nature of this linkage vary, however, and many Americans' view of crime and the criminal justice system is distorted by racial stereotypes and prejudice. This book attempts to separate fact from fiction, myth from reality. Although the contemporary criminal justice system is not characterized by pure justice, many of the grossest racial inequities have been reduced, if not eliminated. The Supreme Court consistently has affirmed the importance of protecting criminal suspects' rights. Even when the Court did not explicitly address the question of racial discrimination in the criminal justice system, its rulings on general procedural issues have led to improvements in the treatment of racial minorities. However, discrimination persists within the court system. Supreme Court decisions and statutory reforms have not eliminated racial bias in decisions regarding bail, charging, jury selection, and juvenile justice processing and sentencing. Although reforms have made systematic racial discrimination unlikely, the American criminal justice system is not color-blind. Figure, notes