[PPT]PowerPoint Presentation - California State University ... 19.ppt · Web viewChapter 19 Race, Ethnicity, and Corrections “race” traditionally, a biological concept used to

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6th

Chapter 19Chapter 19

Race, Ethnicity, and Corrections


““race”race” traditionally, a biological concept

used to distinguish humankind into categories related to skin color & other physical features

definition


““ethnicity”ethnicity” concept used to distinguish people

according to their cultural characteristics--language, religion, & group traditionsethnicity can be used to further

distinguish not only among white individuals, but among African Americans, as well.

it can also be used to even further subdivide Hispanics.

definition


crime, race & ethnicity crime, race & ethnicity by the numbersby the numbers fact: men of color, especially, young men,

are disproportionately locked up in U.S. prisons & jails, or otherwise under control of the criminal justice system in America: 1/2 U.S. prison population is black black men are 7 times more likely than whites

to have been incarcerated at some time in prison

1 in 3 black men in their 20s is under correctional supervision in U.S.

56% of young black men in Baltimore… 50% of black men 18-35 in D.C.


race/ethnicity of US inmatesrace/ethnicity of US inmates

Other3%

White33%

Hispanic 18%

African-American

46%


3,098

1,278

370

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

African-American Hispanic White

incarceration rate of males,incarceration rate of males,by racial/ethnic groupby racial/ethnic group

num

ber

of m

en in

carc

erat

edpe

r 10

0,00

0 of

eac

h gr

oup


12%

46%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

% US pop. that is Black % prison pop. that is Black

% of black men in prison % of black men in prison vs. in U.S. populationvs. in U.S. population

% o

f bla

ck m

en m

en in

U.S

. pr

ison

s vs.i

n ge

nera

l pop

ulat

ion


““disparity”disparity” the inequality of treatment of one

group (compared to the treatment accorded other groups) by the criminal justice systemdisparity may be based on legal (eg,

criminal record) or illegal, or improper, (eg, race) grounds

definition


““discrimination”discrimination”

differential treatment of groups without reference to an individual’s behavior or qualifications

definition


Explanations of racial disparity Explanations of racial disparity in criminal justice in criminal justice

alternative views: why men of color are disproportionately represented in criminal justice system

differential criminality

racist criminal justice system racist societyracist society

they do more (serious) crimes, with more serious prior records, other characteristics warranting prison

query: does disparity in criminal justice system amount to discrimination?


““self-report self-report study” study”

an investigation of behavior (like criminal activity) based on subjects’ responses to questions concerning their involvement in those activities

definition


17%

13%

26%

35%

36%

46%

11%

57%

49%

84%

85%

89%

4%

11%

8%

3%

29%

34%

1%

40%

5%

81%

76%

83%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

burglary

other grand theft

auto theft

concealed weapon

criminal libel

falsification & fraud

robbery

tax evasion

assault

malicious mischeif

disorderly conduct

petty theft

menwomen

self-reported crime, self-reported crime, by genderby gender

% o

f men

& w

omen

in U

S. w

ho a

dmitt

ed

com

mitt

ing

vari

ous o

ffen

ses,

1947


20%16%

42%39%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

all children White AfricanAmerican

Hispanic

U.S. children in poverty, U.S. children in poverty, by race/ethnicityby race/ethnicity

% o

f U.S

. chi

ldre

n of

eac

h ra

ce/e

thni

city







incremental decisions all across criminal justice system work to their disadvantage; but no obvious racism



68%

21%

11%

56%

42%

2%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

race of "suspect" race of arrestee

unk/othblackwhite

race of suspect race of suspect vs. race of arrestee (rape)vs. race of arrestee (rape)

com

pari

son

of U

CR

(arr

ests

) & N

CV

S (v

ictim

s’ p

erce

ptio

n of

off

ende

r)


35%

51%

14%

39%

60%

1%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


unk/othblackwhite

race of suspect race of suspect vs. race of arrestee (robbery)vs. race of arrestee (robbery)

com

pari

son

of U

CR

(arr

ests

) & N

CV

S (v

ictim

s’ p

erce

ptio

n of

off

ende

r)


57%

30%

13%

60%

38%

2%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


unk/othblackwhite

race of suspect race of suspect vs. race of arrestee (agg. assault)vs. race of arrestee (agg. assault)

com

pari

son

of U

CR

(arr

ests

) & N

CV

S (v

ictim

s’ p

erce

ptio

n of

off

ende

r)


70%

21%

9%

63%

33%

4%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


unk/othblackwhite

race of suspect race of suspect vs. race of arrestee (simple assault)vs. race of arrestee (simple assault)

com

pari

son

of U

CR

(arr

ests

) & N

CV

S (v

ictim

s’ p

erce

ptio

n of

off

ende

r)







incremental decisions all across criminal justice system work to their disadvantage; but no obvious racism

criminal justice criminal justice system is simply a system is simply a reflection of racism in reflection of racism in American societyAmerican society



evidence of broader racismevidence of broader racism crack cocaine (used in greater proportion by

inner-city people of color) is punished 100 times more severely (by federal sentencing guidelines) than its virtually identical white-powder equivalent (used in greater proportion by white offenders)

stronger association between unemployment rates & imprisonment rates than between crime rates & imprisonment rates

relationship between racism & criminal justice system may be reciprocal, perpetuating minority status & criminality


social significance of race and social significance of race and punishmentpunishment

opportunity costs for minority individuals cannot be earning a living cannot be attending school cannot be parenting cannot be voting and partaking of “free” society

opportunity costs for minority communities alienation of entire generation of young adults

from involvement & commitment to larger society

social disruption, due to absence of major segment of its adult population

generalized suspicion of criminal justice system by major portion of society

[PPT]PowerPoint Presentation - California State University ... 19.ppt · Web viewChapter 19 Race, Ethnicity, and Corrections “race” traditionally, a biological concept used to

Documents