Mitigating Racial Inequity by Addressing Racism in the Criminal Justice System: A Behavior Analytic Approach

Racial inequity in the U.S. criminal justice system is a long-standing problem that has recently garnered international attention. This article frames the problem of racial inequity in a behavior analytic context and offers potential solutions based on existent research and behavior analytic principles. We draw a parallel between the analysis of racist behavior enabled by the definitions provided by Kendi in How to Be an Antiracist and the analysis of verbal behavior made possible by the terminology posited by Skinner in Verbal Behavior in order to highlight the pertinence of applying a behavior analytic approach to the problem of racial inequity upheld by racist behavior. Immediately actionable steps to address racism in the criminal justice system and beyond are offered on a cultural, organizational, and individual level.