Causes of Increases in Prison Populations
The United States has experienced an unprecedented increase in prison populations over the last decade, a trend that began in the 1980's. In just seven years during the last decade, prison populations rose by 58% -- from 1,726.000 to 1.1 million (SW, 1998). 1997 alone showed an increase of over 5% (SW, 1998).
Three factors play heavily into these facts: the war on drugs, longer sentences, and mandatory laws at the federal level and in many states requiring sterner sentences for repeat offenders. These changes in our approach to criminal prosecution have resulted in two significant changes in our prison system: a change in racial balance, and a prison population that now contains significantly more older prisoners than before these changes occurred.
Roach (2002) reported on years of research done by Angela Davis and others. He found persuasive evidence that Blacks receive harsher treatment from the United States Legal system than Whites, but that this does not account for all of the increase in Black populations in prisons. Black criminals actually commit more violent crimes in proportion to their population than others (Roach, 2002), so this does not represent bias. However, bias is very clear when drug offenses are examined: Blacks commit 13% of substance abuse violations, but make up 74% of those arrested under those laws.
Statistics from the Bureau of Justice Statistics...
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