Number of Blacks in Prison Nears 1 Million?

Question

"These numbers are staggering," said Laurie Levensen, a former federal prosecutor and associate dean of Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. "We're incarcerating an entire generation of people."

blacks contribute about half of all prison inmates when they are only 13 percent of the U.S. population

why are so many blacks in prison

Answer 1

Interesting, did you know that the majority of child molesters are white males, and the majority of drunk drivers are white males also. I just thought I would return the favor of meaningless insults, what is the point of you coming on here trying to start crap? Grow-up!

Answer 2

I don't pretend to have the answer, but this is something to consider.

The family is where children are shaped and formed. I would check to see what kind of family foundations these people come out of. That has less to do with race and more with culture.

don't you believe that If the younger generation would change their way of thinking and believing that gangster and irresponsibility is cool, it would help?

I see a direct and corresponding connection between the number of men and women incarcerated. Check out the percentage of men to women and you will find the numbers terribly disproportionate.

I would wager that irresponsibility is a key factor for both in the equation. Maybe aggressiveness too. There is nothing wrong with a well directed responsible person being aggressive. But when you put aggressiveness and irresponsibility together I think you have a problem.

I believe that blacks and men of any race must take responsibility for our problem. That means that we can't blame our problems on anything or anybody or circumstances, period. No more excuses. You can't change the world but you can change yourself.

I believe that where the family breaks down, that people and community organizations (churches, clubs etc.) and not government must step in. Government only gets 30 cents on the dollar to the intended recipient compared to from 70-90+ percent from churches and private organizations.

I have a old wise friend who worked for years in the prison system. He was at the church I attended when My wife was telling a group what a different person I was from when I was a rebellious youth. After the meeting he walked up to me and gave me a big bear hug, then stepped back and said "just what I thought" When I hugged you, you stiffened up like a board. That tells me that you never were physically or emotionally bonded to your dad. Almost every guy that hasn't bonded with their dad went through a time of rebellion, some never get over it. Almost every guy in prison tells the same story.

Is there a connection between absentee fathers or emotionally distant fathers and rebellion and irresponsibility?
I believe so.
I would look to see if there is a disproportionate amount of absentee or emotionaly unavailable dads in the black community.
It's worth checking out, don't you think.

Answer 3

I think this a good question but why stop with just this question? I'm so thankful to the women who countered this question with the one about white child molesters. Again though why just stop with this? There is so much to be asked and said about America today yet you want ask and say things based on the color of someones skin. Than someone had the nerve to "answer" by saying "damn *******" Aren't we supposed to be beyond all of this ignorance? All these racist issues. We do not know what crime these people are supposed to have commit ed so we don't even know if all these people are even guilty. Instead of asking questions like this one we need to be preventing these crimes from happing before we put away a whole race.

Answer 4

For the same reason Men make up 48 persent of the population and 90-something percent of inmates. Comparing prison demographics to population demographics is a logical fallacy. Comparing prison demographics to criminal demographics would be the only useful comparison. Unfortunately, it's not PC.

Answer 5

If you are asking this question, that means you are not watching TV or reading any books, newspaper, or magazines speaking on the amount of crime in less fortunate areas, the job situation in this country, the fact Black males are chosen for jobs or even offered , less than 10% of a 100. Actually this country is making fortune on the prison systems where, they actually employ blacks for .34 a day. This is the cheapest labor system, besides a third world country, oh pardon me, that would be us too, wouldn't it. A year to clear Katrina, please............................PEACE

Answer 6

Look at the comments on this. Maybe a lot of the problem is displayed here. Most , I SAID MOST, whites dont care if you are white. If you are a criminal, you are still a criminal and we want you locked up. But many blacks seem to have the mentality that color outweighs poor or criminal behavior. In many ways, it seems to me blacks condone a lot of the criminal, rude, anti social, victimized, poor us behavior within their own. As long as that mind set prevails, it will show in the lock up stats. Remember, what you subsidize, support, encourage and find commonality with, you only get more of.

One additional comment. Many quote M.L. King, the color of skin should not be used but rather the content of character. That would be lovely for all of us. Yet if that is to be the case, one must be willing to see and admit when it is the content of your character or your lack of character that is causing you problems. I dont think a lot of people like to see or admit that, for it is far easier to scream racism in many cases.

Answer 7

Racism and economics.

There is a book written by Vincent Schiraldi a very famous advocate for prison reform.....it answers this question and sheds light on our very corrupt legal system.

Answer 8

it's not because they are black. crime is related to social class and a larger % of African Americans are still struggling in poor working class and no work communities. evidently, prison is not working as a solution. remember , also that prisons also incarcerate a higher percentage of innocent black men who have spent many, many years in prison/jail.

Answer 9

Because the black culture has different standards that are more accepting of behaviors that our general society considers criminal acts. They have a large "chip on the shoulder" that makes them feel justified.

Answer 10

It is so sad that anyone has to go to prison but the fact that there are more black then white stems from Black on black crimes. That too is so sad.