Final answer:
The criminal justice system displays discrimination when it treats different races or social classes unequally. Discrimination is illegal and goes against the concept of justice, which aims for fair and equitable treatment for all, acknowledging circumstances that might necessitate different treatment within the law.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a criminal justice system treats a certain race or social class differently from another, it is displaying discrimination. Discrimination entails the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex. For instance, within the United States, various laws exist to protect individuals from discrimination based on characteristics such as age, disability, race, and sex. The UN also aims to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination and bias against women on a global scale.
Being treated fairly implies that the laws and judicial processes are applied equally, without partiality or prejudice. However, justice can be a more nuanced concept that takes into account circumstances that might warrant differential treatment under the law. For example, the judicial system might consider mitigating factors such as the intent behind a criminal act or the specific context in which it was committed.