Are hate crime laws necessary? Listen to my interview with NPR here.
-Professor Paul ButlerAre Hate Crime Laws Necessary?
Posted April 11th, 2012Zimmerman Prosecution
Posted April 11th, 2012My talk with DC Fox 5 News on the Zimmerman prosecution.
Attorney: Zimmerman Defense Fund Website Is Real: MyFoxDC.com
-Professor Paul ButlerTrayvon Martin and Racial Profiling
Posted March 28th, 2012Check out my thoughts on Trayvon Martin and racial profiling in an article for “The Daily Beast”
Shooting Death of 17-Year-Old Trayvon Martin Puts Scrutiny on Florida Self-Defense Law
Posted March 24th, 2012On February 26th, Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old black high school student was visiting his father in Sanford, Florida and watching the NBA All-Star game at a house in a gated community. Listen to my interview with “the Take Away” about this incident, here:
The Rutgers spying verdict won’t end bullying.
Posted March 19th, 2012The Rutgers spying verdict won’t end bullying: Check out my editorial on CNN.com for my thoughts about the case here.
NYTimes Room for Debate: Obama Should Talk About Race
Posted March 13th, 2012The news for young black men is not good: they are disproportionately singled out for discipline in school, they are more likely to be stopped and frisked by New York City police officers, and according to Michelle Alexander in her book, “The New Jim Crow,” nearly one-third of black men are likely to spend time in prison at some point in their lives.
Would pulling back on draconian drug laws or legalizing marijuana be enough to fix this imbalance? What else needs to be done?
I argue that we should end the war on drugs, make school disciplinary proceedings more transparent and require official explanations for racial disparities. Check out my full response in the New York Times: Room for Debate.
-Professor Paul ButlerHip-Hop and Criminal Justice
Posted February 11th, 2012What does hip-hop have to do with the criminal justice system? I answered this question for the Washington Examiner this week. Read my response from the interview here
-Professor Paul ButlerThe UVA Lacrosse Player Murder
Posted February 11th, 2012Will the violent history of this relationship hurt the defense? I spoke to the TODAY show about the trial:
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
-Professor Paul ButlerJurors Need to Know That They Can Just Say No
Posted December 21st, 2011Should an individual be charged with a crime for instructing jurors about their ability to refuse to convict someone based on a law they disagree with? In this op-ed for the New York Times, I discuss the purpose and importance of jury nullification in our justice system.
Does Race Play a Role in Criminal Sentencing?
Posted December 9th, 2011Yesterday, I answered questions for 9 News Now about the extent to which race plays a factor in criminal sentencing:
-Professor Paul Butler
Professor Paul Butler