NCJ Number
86407
Date Published
1982
Length
97 pages
Annotation
This report aims at promoting a better understanding of the problem of racially differential imprisonment and offers goals and strategies for reducing racial disparities in American criminal justice.
Abstract
Blacks were about 6.6 times more likely than whites to be in prison on December 31, 1979. This disparity is reflected in every region of the Nation. This condition of disproportionate representation of blacks in prison cannot be explained by racially differential arrest data; arrest practices are themselves a major contributor to black overrepresentation in prison. The use of discretionary decisionmaking by police, prosecutors, and judges targets blacks for disproportionately more frequent and severe handling by the criminal justice system. This differential processing has had a devastating impact on the black community. High rates of incarceration for young, black males has not only had a debilitating effect on the offenders themselves but also on their families and the general stability and quality of life in black communities. Further, there is no evidence that the policy of imprisoning large numbers of 'street' offenders has a significant benefit for society, since most are further criminalized in prison and then released to commit additional crimes. Sixty-one policy recommendations are offered. They include opposition to new prison construction, the 'capping' of inmate populations, sentencing reform, bail reform, the monitoring of criminal justice decisionmaking and the sanctioning of discriminatory practices, and the expansion of alternatives to incarceration. Tabular data are provided.