Disparity
While the numbers vary depending on the source, most agree here in the United States,
about 1 in 30 males, age 20-34, are in jail. Estimates for black males in that age range,
say the number is 1 in 9.
For white women aged 35-39, estimates say there is 1 out of every 355 in jail. The
estimates for black women in the same age range say the number is 1 in 100.
In a 2-page essay, take a position on the reasons there such a disparity between the jail
rates of African Americans and Caucasian Americans. Discuss and support the reasons
for taking your position. In addition to taking a position, the student should provide some
ideas for addressing this issue.
Students must include a minimum of two references, one being from an outside.
ANSWER:
Disparity in Jail Rate between Black American
and Caucasian Americans in the United States
The relationship between race and crime in the United States has been a topic of public
controversy and scholarly debate for more than a century. The fact that there have been
a high proportion of black Americans serving long jail terms compared to the whites has
been a thorny issue both in the social and academic circles. Much efforts and resources
have been invested in carrying out research on the topic and shocking data has been
brought to the limelight. Research has shown that African Americans make up thirteen
percent of the general US population yet they constitute twenty eight percent of all
arrests, forty percent of all inmates held in prisons and jails and forty two percent of the
population on death row.
In contrast, whites make up sixty seven percent of the total US population and seventy
percent of all arrests yet only forty percent of all inmates held in state prisons or local
jails and fifty six percent of the population on death row. Statistics has also shown that
African Americans were more likely to be sentenced to prisons and less likely to be
sentenced to probation than whites. In addition, the average prison sentence for violent
crime was approximately one year longer for African Americans than for the whites. The
above statistics show a clear discrepancy in the criminal justice system in the United
States and this has been for the following reasons.
While the numbers vary depending on the source, most agree here in the United States,
about 1 in 30 males, age 20-34, are in jail. Estimates for black males in that age range,
say the number is 1 in 9.
For white women aged 35-39, estimates say there is 1 out of every 355 in jail. The
estimates for black women in the same age range say the number is 1 in 100.
In a 2-page essay, take a position on the reasons there such a disparity between the jail
rates of African Americans and Caucasian Americans. Discuss and support the reasons
for taking your position. In addition to taking a position, the student should provide some
ideas for addressing this issue.
Students must include a minimum of two references, one being from an outside.
ANSWER:
Disparity in Jail Rate between Black American
and Caucasian Americans in the United States
The relationship between race and crime in the United States has been a topic of public
controversy and scholarly debate for more than a century. The fact that there have been
a high proportion of black Americans serving long jail terms compared to the whites has
been a thorny issue both in the social and academic circles. Much efforts and resources
have been invested in carrying out research on the topic and shocking data has been
brought to the limelight. Research has shown that African Americans make up thirteen
percent of the general US population yet they constitute twenty eight percent of all
arrests, forty percent of all inmates held in prisons and jails and forty two percent of the
population on death row.
In contrast, whites make up sixty seven percent of the total US population and seventy
percent of all arrests yet only forty percent of all inmates held in state prisons or local
jails and fifty six percent of the population on death row. Statistics has also shown that
African Americans were more likely to be sentenced to prisons and less likely to be
sentenced to probation than whites. In addition, the average prison sentence for violent
crime was approximately one year longer for African Americans than for the whites. The
above statistics show a clear discrepancy in the criminal justice system in the United
States and this has been for the following reasons.
