Why is the American prison system so disproportionately filled with african americans?

Question

Do they commit more crimes per capita?

Answer 1

Because, disproportionately, they commit more crimes.

Answer 2

The majority of serious crimes that I have been involved in were black-on-black crimes. While the perpetrators were African-American, so was the victim. This is further enhanced by the reluctance of victims and/or witnesses to talk to police. The overwhelming majority of calls the we receive are in predominantly African-American neighborhoods. There are probably numerous socio-economic, political, or other factors that contribute to this that I'm not wise enough to diagnose.

On one hand the police look racist because we arrest more African-American suspects; but when you consider that the majority of the victims of those crimes are also African-American, would it not be more racist not to give those victims equal protection under the law? I work in a town with about an equal amount of black and white citizens. There is also a sizeable Native-American population, and a small, but growing, hispanic population. Our police force is as racially diverse as our population.

There is a large portion of the African-American community that is thankful for a stronger police presence in their neighborhood. They see the crime being routinely committed by gangs, prostitutes, drug dealers, and other criminals daily. They take pride in their neighborhoods and want them cleaned up. They also have a strong pride in their heritage and it pains them to see that all the strides they have taken toward civil liberties and equality is being destroyed by a race preying upon itself. I have a strong desire to help these citizens.

It doesn't matter if your black or white or native or hispanic or asian or Jewish or any other race. Everyone deserves a right to live in peace. So call me racist if you want, but I will continue to do all I can to help the people, all the people, that I'm sworn to serve and protect to live in peace. If that requires arresting more of one race or another, or one sex more than another, or more members of one religion than another, then so be it.

Answer 3

"Do they commit more crimes per capita?" I think that's true.

I think the reason why it's true is because of a certain tendency to adapt a False Victimhood. If I can claim I'm discriminated against, that is a fine excuse for not trying to succeed legitimately.

Plus, in some black neighborhoods, the more successful blacks move out, leaving many less successful blacks with no role models nearby. That's dangerous. It's a complicated problem.

Racism is a very minor problem in this country. You can tell, because Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson say the opposite.

Answer 4

This is a racist country as well as a christian nation....just ask the decider....I mean do the two go hand in hand? I think they do ..History seems to bear out 2 facts about ANY theocracy...they are divisive along racial or sexual lines...you are better then them is the theme and they are violent....this goes for iran, israel, US, ireland, saudi arabia, the list is too long...we must seek a secular government to enforce equality.
No black people do not commit crimes on a per capita basis more than any other race

Answer 5

Not in order of importance:

racism

they are poor -lawyers are expensive so they are dependent upon public defenders

commit more crimes

use more drugs

involved in more criminal activity

poor education

failure of the Black family

unable to find decent paying work

gangs

I am sure I could up with more. Want it understood that I don't believe all of the above-are they reasons, possibly. I really don't know. I wish we could ask these inmates what their reasons are and get honest answers.

Answer 6

I would answer this question, but it's not PC and some lib will feel obligated to call me a racist(and you too)

What the Hell lets give something to talk about!
The welfare system has taught them that life should be handed to them without any effort on their part, so when the check is late or they get their benefits denied because a new group of illegal hit town then they feel they have been treated unfairly so they take what they want from someone who has it!!! If want what is mine they have to get past Smith & Wesson!!!!

Answer 7

Another"answer'er"(yes I know it's not a word)said you would probably think his answer made him racist...I'm going to say the same thing....But what I am going to say is the truth "AS I UNDERSTAND IT"...
I am sure you have heard of"EBONICS"they even tried to teach it in the schools for a bit in the late 80's,of course that failed miserably....It seems that,the majority,,,,I cant say ALL because that would be racist of me,,but the majority of african americans DONT WANT to try and better themselves as human beings..They are too fv@#!ng lazy to even speak properly,,I understand about trying to ACT like you speak like this for a few hours to impress freinds out on the town,but most have actually adopted this language as the norm in their lives,,,,How could anyone ever be succesful with that garbage,outside of the music industry??Also,there is a great "reverse racism"going on towards whites..A few people will talk big s#!t about fighting,or killing,or stealing,or pimping,or "running someone"and the list goes on and on,,then somone will take all that spew and blow seriously and go do something stupid,usually getting them killed or ending up in prison.....I have actually heard Black men saying these disgraceful things and I'm talkin about the real world,not mtv...Then you have the people who will shout about the years of slavery,,,,NOBODY alive in the states TODAYwas EVER a slave in the united states of america!!!!
EVERYONE of us,,if we look back far enough,has ancestors who were slaves of one kind or another,,jeez man,,practically the whole country of england were slaves to one king or another througout the course of history,,except they were called peasants instead of slaves,,,even now we are all slaves to our lifestyles....the difference is,,the blacks never got past it...Just the fact that you would ask a question like this tells me that you are angry about what you percieve to be injustices,,,How do you know that those people dont deserve to be in prison??It is unfortunate....There exists in this country a double standard,,,,There is a tv station called b.e.t.Black entertainment .......What if there were a station called w.e.t???white entertainment??How about Jet magazine???How about the miss black america beauty pageant???what if there were a miss white america beauty pageant??wouldnt there be riots all across the country if we announced a new college fund called The united anglo saxon college fund???
You see,there is a grave misunderstanding amongst our collective community as americans..This is unfortunate..
NOONE has the right to say they have been trodden upon or held back in this country these days!!!!!
To say anyone has lost opportunities,or been"pushed into"poverty because of their race is too much horses#!t...
ANYONE who is WILLING to make the extra effort and apply themselves can be succesful in this country! I could give you examples all day long...want some?ok.
Chris rock...
morgan freeman
wesely snipes
condoliza rice
jerry rice
michael jordan
snoop dogg
jackie chan(yes I know he's not black,but he is a good example)
The list goes on and on and on......
why were these people able to excel and stay out of prison when so many others werent?Because they applied themselves andf wanted a better life than they had!!!!

I drive a truck for a living and I go to all the major cities,,chicago,new york,dallas,los angeles,etc,etc.
I dont even want to tell you some of the things I see every day,,If I did you would definately think I was a racist,,I assure you I am not,,but I do think it is high time that a few truths come out,,even if it is only seen here by a few people,,,
When I spend time in a metro area that is rough,,it isnt rough because there are whites or mexicans or orientals,,,can you guess why its rough???Im too sure that you already know the answer to that!!!!If you dont belive me,,just take a walk into the area known as "techwood"in atlanta after dark,IF you make it out alive,,call me and tell me what you think about the numbers of black men in our prisons then......Im not trying to be mean,,only truthful.....

Answer 8

If people are sentenced to prison , let them work in the fields like the Mexicans . Let them earn their Room & Board. The'll think next time before they do the Crime!!

Answer 9

I don't know if there are exact statistics as to whether they commit more crimes, commit more serious crimes, are more often aprehended, more often convicted (or even more often falsely accused and convicted), or given longer sentences.
Could be any or all of those things.

Answer 10

Well it has a lot to do with drugs. They are more easy to become influenced by drugs and that leads to them going to prison and most of them live in poverty. Drug addiction should be labeled a disease then insurance companies would have to worry about them.