NCJ Number
142121
Date Published
1992
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This report compares the incarceration rates of black males in San Francisco to those of black males in the United States and in South Africa, based on an analysis of jail populations in comparison with the general population.
Abstract
The analysis also considered the representation of African Americans at various stages of the criminal justice process to determine if the rates of incarceration are influenced either by rates of criminality or by arrest rates. In addition, the racial and ethnic composition of significant decisionmaking organizations in San Francisco's criminal justice system was examined. Results revealed that San Francisco's incarceration rate of black males is twice the national average and 10 times the rate of South Africa. The incarceration rate of black males from San Francisco is 16 times the incarceration rate of white males. In addition, at almost every stage of pretrial negotiations, whites are more successful than nonwhites. Moreover, blacks are underrepresented in crucial decisionmaking positions in San Francisco's criminal justice system. Overall, San Francisco's excessive incarceration of black men is only part of the broader criminal justice system, which relies heavily on deterrence and punishment and insufficiently on opportunity and encouragement. Figures, table, and reference notes