Prison Diversity, Racial Inequality in the US - Research Paper Example

?Running head: prison diversity 11th December Introduction African American men between the ages of 25 to 29 were incarcerated with high percentage compared with Hispanic men and non Hispanic white men; this was due to the race since the African men are associated with drug syndicates among other things. America is known as a country with the highest world percentage in rate of incarceration as per today followed by Russian and Cuba. Due to racial discrimination, African American males are mostly in jail with four percent as compared to those of Hispanic male with only 1.7 percent and those of white male with only 0.7 percent in United State according to the 2012 statistics. The two statistics that were conducted in 2003 and 2012 tells us a terrible tale of how racial oppression still exists in US. Despite the country having a African American president and black attorney general racial oppression still exist thus African men being jailed for petty incidences. Despite the efforts of activist like Martin Luther king, fighting racial oppression in the US still exists, and fighting for their rights seems to be rising now and then. Segregation exists in the United States, black and white scholars do not receive equal schooling fund but they are unequally shared indicating that racism is still being practiced in the education sector. African American The black American men are usually convicted for drug cases and the trends shows that though the number of African American is not so high they are about 52 percent if one compare between them Hispanic and white men. The white males are about 34 percent thus showing the racial oppression in most of American states (Criminal Justice Sheet, 2013). Inequality still exist since drug cases in women are about 41 percent for female black American comparing with 24 percent of white female. For example, William Barnes who is an African American has been convicted for motor vehicle theft and Jones who is a citizen of America by birth was convicted for the same crime but the judge who presided over the their case was a white by the name Marvin Frankel. Jones who is a white and worked in a restaurant was sentenced to 6 months in jail comparing with William who was sentenced for 2 years in prison. This is a clear indication that it was not fair since the victims were convicted for the same thing and yet a different jail term. Racialism is still being practiced in court of laws oppressing the African American. Due to such kind of ruling, it is evident that one in three black males who are born in United States is expected to go to prison compared with one in every six Hispanic men and one white out of 17 who are likely to be incarcerated (Marc 1999). The issue of ethnicity is highly considered in US since if one is white or Hispanic is likely to be charged less stiffly comparing with the black American men. United Nation human rights activist has indicated that America is violating the international agreements in civil and political rights of African people thus need to review the agreement again. United nation human right committee have indicated that racial disparity in United States is in the criminal justice system and starts from arrest to trial and lastly to sentencing. The lawyers or the defendants are disadvantaged thus if an African is having one defendant, then a white is having two who are not approved by a public court. Hispanic men Latino male’s still face stiff sentence especially if they are not employed comparing with other offenders who are white men. Black and Latino defendants are mostly disadvantaged compared to white defendants when it comes to regal processes. For example, when a lawyer defends black or Hispanic men they are more disadvantaged and even the case is not fairly listened comparing to a case where a white man is involved. Latino defendants are punished more severely compared to white defendants for crimes like drug and property crimes. This shows how race and inequality is practiced by those who are in power oppressing the others just because of color and where they come from. A Latino citizen harming black American or a Latino is not taken seriously but the worst is to harm a white which will be judged unfair and even can lead to life imprisonment. Some of southern states in US like Mississippi, Georgia among others have low rates of black to white incarceration below the average thus showing that the racial discrimination is not high like in other states, and this makes the southern states to produce lower number of black to white racial discrimination and incarceration. The jail and prison are two different areas where the African American and white experience a disparity in cases of a criminal offense. For example, the white are likely to be incarcerated in local jail since in jail one will stay for only short duration comparing with a prison term which is a long-term and hard labor must be done (Wortley, 2002). An example is where a Latin American was convicted of robbery with violence and a white was still convicted for the same, the white was taken to jail and imprisoned for six years while his counterpart from the Latin America was taken to a prison and imprisoned for 7 years showing that though the two are Americans, racial discrimination was practiced highly. Non Hispanic white men White men dealing with a criminal offense are harsher when non Hispanic white men are involved. For example, when a white by the name William was in possession of a gun, attacked another white, he was only imprisoned for only 5 years comparing with other African American who would be imprisoned for 7 to 8 years. Additionally, no lawyers to defend the victims and if any they will they are always disadvantaged. The case was under a white judge by the name Willie Horton. Factors associated with those who are involved in crime Oppression Oppression on both African American and Hispanic men results to criminal acts. For example, a white man will in most cases not earn the same salary with an African American man leading to chances of criminal cases by African American men since they are in need of decent housing and other basic necessities. This oppression depends on age, race, gender, and the perception that has been portrayed to them that they cannot contribute to the society. Economy The high employment rate for the African American and Latin Americans will likely led to an increase in engaging in criminal acts. Lack of available resources always creates a state of hopelessness and thus leading to one associating him or her to criminal deeds. Lower income earners are likely to be affected mostly the white men since they want improved way of living. Guns A lot of cases in United States are likely to be murders and robbery with violence since one has access of guns and other weapons. This means that many black men have a high possibility of involving themselves in violence. If there is a way to control the use of guns, it is more likely to reduce the number of those who associated with criminal acts. Family dynamism Poor payment in the local industries may result to families’ responsibilities being abandoned by men. This is because it becomes stressful to the family since one cannot raise the family due to poor economic situation thus leading to one abandoning the family. Racial inequality in the US is highly practiced among societies and thus affecting the African American and Latin American. Racial inequality thus contributes to wealth status in United States as well as widening the gap between the rich and the poor families. Since employment is based on racial groups. It will result to increasing the level of unemployment as well as chances of African American being imprisoned in high percentage as compared to Latin American and the white. Since the African and Hispanic American are poorer compared with the whites, they are likely to use the defenders from the public courts since they unable to hire private lawyers. This means that the African and Latin American will have to struggle so as to come up with funds to assist them in hiring defendants. This is why the human right commissions try to provide defensive services to the African and Latin Americans (Reducing Racial disparity in the Criminal Justice System, 2000). The war on drugs is the main problem in the justice system in United States. White young students using drugs are many but they are only punished slightly thus making the use of drugs a challenge in US. Conclusion Based on the above discussion, it is clear that racial discrimination will result to lowering of the economic stability of the minority. Though the percentage of African American and Latin American is not high, they are not employed due to race thus affecting the economic of the country. The ethnic or cultural background should not be considered when justice is being provided. It is worth to note that even if one is a criminal one has the right to fair justice in the courts that are approved. References Criminal Justice Sheet. (2013). Available from http://www.naacp.org/pages/criminal-justice-fact-sheet Marc, M. (1999). One To Three Black Male Will Go to Prison in Their Lifetime. New York: New York Press. Reducing racial disparity in the Criminal Justice System. (2000). Available from http://www.sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/rd_reducingracialdisparity.pdf Wortley, R. (2002). Situational Prison Control: Crime Prevention in Correctional Institutions. New York: Cambridge University Press. Read More