The Panther

African American men are over represented in the prison system. The breakdown of the statistics is alarming. In this country the rate of incarceration is about one imprisoned male to 100 free males. However, the rate of incarceration for African Americans males is one to nine. That is for one imprisoned African American male there are nine African American males who are free.

The rate of incarceration for young African American males is stark. One of every 15 blacks between the ages of 18-39 is incarcerated. Furthermore, African American men are more likely to receive the death sentence for similar crimes committed. According the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth:

- About 13 percent of black males between the ages of 12-16 have been arrested.

- In comparison to other racial groups, black adolescents are more likely to be detained by the police

- Black adolescents are more likely to be committed to juvenile facilities

There are several factors that may explain the disparities in the rates of incarceration. In this essay I will briefly discuss three. The factors are public policy, poverty and literacy rates. I will begin with public policy.

In the late 80's we saw a remarkable rise in the rate of incarceration. Currently America incarcerates about 25 percent of all prisoners in the world. So in general, in this country, there is a tendency to incarcerate and to punish. During the period between the late 80's and early 90's, millions of men and women were incarcerated for drug related offenses. This period is known as the tough on crime era. During this era there was a general belief that a strong relation existed between drug use and crime, particularly drug use and violent crimes against people. Thus laws were enacted that led to tougher sentencing guidelines and longer sentences. The laws favored stiffer penalties for crack cocaine use.

Many public officials were elected to office because they promised their constituencies that they would be tough on crime. Most believed that punishment would deter criminal behavior. As a result new prisons and correctional facilities were built. The prison industry prospered. In fact more prisons were built than were schools. For example, during a period of time during the 90's, in the urban area of Baltimore, Maryland there were more African American men in prison, on parole , and awaiting sentencing for crimes than there were in school. Interestingly enough, the tough on crime policies have not yielded the expected returns in terms of crime reduction and perceptions of safety among citizens. Instead the costs associated with building and maintaining correctional facilities have escalated to the point where states now realize that they can not afford the costs of sustaining prisons.

Closely related to public policy, as a causal agent in crime is poverty. That there is a relation between poverty and crime should not surprise anyone. According to various commissions, among all industrial countries, America has the highest poverty rate and the largest gap between the wealthy and poor. The poor are disproportionately represented in prison. Structural causes of poverty such as unemployment, substandard housing and social exclusion are factors that contribute to crime and violent behavior among people in this society. These structural conditions of unemployment, substandard housing, and social exclusion effect the ability of individuals and families to provide for themselves and to function in healthy and productive ways.

The literacy rate among incarcerated offenders is quite low. The average reading level for an offender is at the fourth grade level. With a reading level so low the individual may not be able to complete a simple application form. Low reading levels, school problems, and poor school achievement are linked to early delinquent behavior and eventually adult crimes. If a child becomes involved in the juvenile justice system prior to the age of 12 then there is a high probability that he will engage in criminal behavior as an adult.

The solution to reducing crime is clear. We need to change public policy, reduce the rates of poverty, and increase educational opportunities and the literacy rates. These changes require the will and the efforts of all sectors of society.

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