“African Americans are incarcerated in state prisons across the country at more than five times the rate of whites, and at least ten times the rate in five states.” (Nellis, 2016) Although there have been promising reforms put in place to reduce the prison populations, racial and ethnic disparities within the prison system continue to cripple the idea of justice in America. African Americans have been incarcerated in state prisons 5.1 times the rate for whites. In the states of Iowa, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont, and Wisconsin, the disparity is greater than 10 to 1. Out of twelve states (Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia), half of the
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In earlier times, down in southern prisons, chain-gang style penal practices, lynchings, and prosecutorial bigotry were common. Often, racial minorities were tried by all white juries in all white courtrooms. In 1910, African Americans had made up 31 percent of the prison population. The sentencing laws were discriminatory, the harshest sanctions were being given to blacks, and the police were not much help either. They played a part in racial violence by encouraging or failing to restrain mobs. Over the last century, police instigated or participated in race riots in many different cities. Because of the behavior of police, it encouraged hostility and violence towards minorities. However, over the past fifty years, things had begun to change. Legislation and U.S. Supreme Court cases became inspired by the civil rights movement and other reform movements which led to the discrimination based upon race unconstitutional.
Law enforcement policies and practices placed better emphasis on professionalism and accountability. Though open discrimination has lessened in the criminal justice system over time, currently we continue to fight unfairness in the justice system. There are still racial and ethnic disparities that persist in the criminal justice world in the United States. Thanks to the work of W.E.B. Dubois on race and criminality, researchers have made great strides in figuring the causes and consequences of racial/ethical disparities in criminal justice
In earlier times, down in southern prisons, chain-gang style penal practices, lynchings, and prosecutorial bigotry were common. Often, racial minorities were tried by all white juries in all white courtrooms. In 1910, African Americans had made up 31 percent of the prison population. The sentencing laws were discriminatory, the harshest sanctions were being given to blacks, and the police were not much help either. They played a part in racial violence by encouraging or failing to restrain mobs. Over the last century, police instigated or participated in race riots in many different cities. Because of the behavior of police, it encouraged hostility and violence towards minorities. However, over the past fifty years, things had begun to change. Legislation and U.S. Supreme Court cases became inspired by the civil rights movement and other reform movements which led to the discrimination based upon race unconstitutional.
Law enforcement policies and practices placed better emphasis on professionalism and accountability. Though open discrimination has lessened in the criminal justice system over time, currently we continue to fight unfairness in the justice system. There are still racial and ethnic disparities that persist in the criminal justice world in the United States. Thanks to the work of W.E.B. Dubois on race and criminality, researchers have made great strides in figuring the causes and consequences of racial/ethical disparities in criminal justice