NCJ Number
57437
Journal
PRISON LAW MONITOR Volume: 1 Issue: 9 Dated: (MARCH 1979) Pages: 205,219-222
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
DATA SHOW CONSISTENTLY THAT THE RATE OF INCARCERATION AMONG BLACKS IN THE UNITED STATES IS MUCH HIGHER THAN AMONG WHITES.
Abstract
MARYLAND PRISONS WERE FIRST EXAMINED BY THE MARYLAND ALLIANCE FOR PRISON ALTERNATIVES. RESULTS SHOWED THAT MARYLAND HAD A VERY HIGH RATE OF INCARCERATION, 198 PER 100,000. A SIGNIFICANT CORRELATION CAN BE MADE BETWEEN RACE AND INCARCERATION RATES: 69 OUT OF EVERY 100,000 WHITES ARE INCARCERATED; AND 823 OUT OF EVERY 100,000 BLACK PEOPLE ARE INCARCERATED. THESE DATA ARE CONSISTENT FOR OTHER STATES AS WELL. ACCORDING TO THE 1973 CENSUS OF OF PRISONERS, THE 1973 MEDIAN INCARCERATION RATE FOR WHITES WAS 43.5 PER 100,000; BUT IT WAS 367.5 PER 100,000 FOR BLACKS IN 1973. A TOTAL OF 41 JURISDICTIONS OUT OF 50 WERE NOTED TO HAVE INCARCERATION RATES FOR WHITES THAT FELL BETWEEN 22 AND 63. THESE RATES WERE SO CONSISTENT WITH THE RATES IN EUROPE THAT ONE CAN ONLY CONCLUDE THAT THE RESPONSES TO CRIME AMONG BLACKS IS NOT A FAIR OR HUMANE ONE. THE INCARCERATION RATE FOR BLACKS IN 38 JURISDICTIONS IN 1973 WAS THREE TIMES AS HIGH AS THAT OF WHITES AND ONE-THIRD OF THESE HAD RATES THAT WERE TEN TIMES HIGHER. EVERY JURISDICTION OUGHT TO EXAMINE THE RACIAL COMPOSITION OF ITS PRISON POPULATION AND FERRET OUT THE DISCRIMINATION BEHIND THE DISPARATE INCARCERATION RATES, SO THAT A MORE CIVILIZED AND HUMANE APPROACH TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE MAY BE INSTITUTED. TABLES AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (STB)