Racial Inequality in the Justice System

Dugoni uses D’Andre’s homicide and the ensuing investigation to illustrate the mistrust that blacks have in the criminal justice system. He also uses his subject matter to point out that Trejo's family’s fear that their son’s killer might not be brought to justice is well-founded. The special attention placed on the case by the Seattle Police Department as well as the Navy suggests that both of these departments are more concerned about their level of public approval than their job of solving crimes. The importance placed on racial tensions suggests that perhaps this case is investigated differently, though not necessarily better, than other crimes.

The first suggestion that racial inequality will play a role in the investigation of D’Andre’s death comes when the members of the violent crimes division are called to the scene because...