The Role Of Racism In Prisons

Up until the 1970s, policies regarding corrections were based on the principle of rehabilitation so that when prisoners were released they could successfully reintegrate into society. To increase the possibility for successful reintegration, prisoners were encouraged to amend their occupational skills and to receive treatment for any psychological issues they faced ranging from addiction and substance abuse to aggression. Since the 1970s, policy makers have shifted to a crime control model that has “cracked down on crime” and focuses on punishment as a form of prevention. This goal has been accomplished by lengthening prison sentences, mandatory minimum sentencing laws, and practically eliminating privileges in prisons with the No Frills Prison …show more content…
When examining policing in terms of race, it is imperative to understand that race and racism is a social construct, the values given to these categories stem from society’s expectations. Racism is so pervasive in the history of the United States that it has been able to adapt and dig deeper into the changing social ideologies to the point where it is covert and implicit instead of intentional. As a result of its pervasiveness, legislation that is facially neutral has a disproportionate effect on racial minorities which leads to more contact with the police than their white counterparts. Communities of color tend to be less trusting of police and are more likely to feel as targets due to effect race has on policing practices (Schlosser, Cha-Jua, Valgoi, & Helen, 2015). Areas that suffer from severe racial isolation and poverty report to have more instances of crime therefore, have a higher police presence. It is important to note that these communities tend to be compromised of primarily housing complexes that forces these children to congregate in public areas. These public areas are then used for drug deals making it easier for arrests because of public exchange (Spohn, 2015). Disproportionate contact occurs because of the lack of private settings – it is much harder for the police to arrest individuals who are …show more content…
That is why when looking to examine these social injustices it is important to acknowledge that there are multiple causes that leads to the formation of a cage and their interaction is what traps black men. The focus should be on addressing the issues of implicit racism and how it affects the criminal justice