The Disparities Among Minority Inmates in the American Prison System Essay Example
The Disparities Among Minority Inmates in the American Prison System
Melvin Kenney
ENG 122
Dr. Beckwith-Howard
March 18, 2013
Is the system rigged for the majority, or for those that break the law? Why are minorities more likely to be incarcerated? Is it because of the lack of education and parental support, living in poverty, socially and behaviorally challenged? Race-based differences in individual treatment are some of the most difficult challenges in
American society today and these are particularly apparent in the arena of criminal justice.
Racial disparity in the criminal justice system is widespread and it threatens to challenge the principle that our criminal justice system is fair, effective and just. According to (Harrison & Beck 2006), there is irrefutable evidence that blacks comprise a disproportionate share of the U.S. prison population. At the end of 2005, there were 1,525,924 persons incarcerated in state and federal prisons; 40 percent of these inmates were black, 35 percent were white, and 20 percent were Hispanic. Blacks, in other words, comprise about 12 percent of the U.S. population but accounts for two-fifths of the prison population. The way in which the police apprehended and punished is one of the great pillars of our democracy. But as we all know that in order for this system to remain viable, the public must have unwavering confidence that at every single stage of the process from the initial investigation of a crime by the police, to the prosecution by the lawyers to the punishment by the Justice system. All individuals in all like circumstances are treated identically, and consistent with the Constitution’s, which guarantees of equal treatment to all under the law. Although African-Americans only make up 12 percent of today’s population in its community, however it accounts for two-fifths of the total that are imprisoned. This is one of the greatest disparities to Caucasian and
Melvin Kenney
ENG 122
Dr. Beckwith-Howard
March 18, 2013
Is the system rigged for the majority, or for those that break the law? Why are minorities more likely to be incarcerated? Is it because of the lack of education and parental support, living in poverty, socially and behaviorally challenged? Race-based differences in individual treatment are some of the most difficult challenges in
American society today and these are particularly apparent in the arena of criminal justice.
Racial disparity in the criminal justice system is widespread and it threatens to challenge the principle that our criminal justice system is fair, effective and just. According to (Harrison & Beck 2006), there is irrefutable evidence that blacks comprise a disproportionate share of the U.S. prison population. At the end of 2005, there were 1,525,924 persons incarcerated in state and federal prisons; 40 percent of these inmates were black, 35 percent were white, and 20 percent were Hispanic. Blacks, in other words, comprise about 12 percent of the U.S. population but accounts for two-fifths of the prison population. The way in which the police apprehended and punished is one of the great pillars of our democracy. But as we all know that in order for this system to remain viable, the public must have unwavering confidence that at every single stage of the process from the initial investigation of a crime by the police, to the prosecution by the lawyers to the punishment by the Justice system. All individuals in all like circumstances are treated identically, and consistent with the Constitution’s, which guarantees of equal treatment to all under the law. Although African-Americans only make up 12 percent of today’s population in its community, however it accounts for two-fifths of the total that are imprisoned. This is one of the greatest disparities to Caucasian and