The degree to which the criminal justice system reinforces existing hierarchies of domination both structurally (as in through systems and procedures) and interpersonally (as in the biases individual actors bring within the systems). Im thinking particularly wrt my experience of the application of self-defense statutes. The privilege of violence when one feels threatened is afforded almost entirely to people who already held dominant positions in society - think cops, old white men, etc - while people who are legitimately constantly under threat - think young black men, particularly those who are gang-affiliated - will never, ever win a self-defense case, despite their actual, accurate assessment of imminent personal harm. This happens both in terms of structure with police investigations and charges filed and such and also in terms of people, jury members and prosecutors in particular. An old white man who claims a perception of threat even in the most improbable of circumstances - say, if he is the only one armed, follows someone home, and instigates a fight, all in denial of explicit instruction from law enforcement - will always be believed. A young black man who fears danger in every interaction, often rightfully, will never be believed when he claims that fear is why he shot someone, even with supporting evidence corroborating his account. We deny the agency of the powerful in creating violence out of peaceful circumstances while assigning blame to the disadvantaged for a life situation thats beyond their control. It's disgusting. With this is mind, it's hard not to see broad self-defense statutes as tantamount to legalized murder rules for the dominant. Do it this way, use these phrases, and you'll get away with murder of the most despicable sort - the hunt-killing to sate your racial / gendered / other animus. these laws have no applicability for the weak. You try paying a fucking lawyer to make this case for you if you're poor, and getting a jury to believe you. You're better off trying to get the witnesses to tell the DA to suck a dick they're not coming in, even if they back up your account. A shame, because fair application might mean the ability of nondominant groups to actually resist oppression, the whole andrea Dworkin thing. It's sad.