War on Drugs
In 1980 a policy was introduced called the "War on Drugs". The War on Drugs was introduced by President Reagan to try to reduce drug use but the policy just made matters worst. One of the policies was that a person in possession of powder cocaine would get a lighter sentence than if you were in possession of crack cocaine. So for example, if a person had gotten caught in possession of 500 gm of crack cocaine and another person got caught in possession of 500 gm powder cocaine , the person who got caught with powder cocaine would get charged 2 years while the person who got caught with the same quantity of crack would get 10 years. The issue here is that powder cocaine is more expensive than crack cocaine, so the white people possess more of the powder while the black people and other minorities possess the crack. So when it comes to sentencing of course the minorities would have a harsher sentencing, and it makes them look bad even though its the government charging them more for the same drug just in different forms.
What the War has to do with sentencing and prison rates?
People find it suspicious that in the African American population in the United States is only 12%; but almost 40% of the population in prisons and jails are of the African American race. Sentencing disparities due to the War on Drugs policy is the main reason why there are so many African Americans in prisons. Usually the jury consists of white people, therefore research has shown that when a Black person is under a white jury, the black person is convicted and given a harsher sentence than their white counterparts for the same felony. There is still racial discrimination in America and many people still think that African Americans commit more crimes than other racial groups, but research has shown that this is not true. The socioeconomic status of blacks as well as various policies, puts African Americans in the position that makes them commit crime. Racial discrimination is therefore still a big issue in America and sometimes it shows when it comes to the criminal justice system. People think that because African Americans are the majority in prisons and jails, they are criminal by nature, therefore, there is a stereotype. These stereotypes leads to Blacks being treated unfairly and and being disadvantaged by policies.
What the War has to do with sentencing and prison rates?
People find it suspicious that in the African American population in the United States is only 12%; but almost 40% of the population in prisons and jails are of the African American race. Sentencing disparities due to the War on Drugs policy is the main reason why there are so many African Americans in prisons. Usually the jury consists of white people, therefore research has shown that when a Black person is under a white jury, the black person is convicted and given a harsher sentence than their white counterparts for the same felony. There is still racial discrimination in America and many people still think that African Americans commit more crimes than other racial groups, but research has shown that this is not true. The socioeconomic status of blacks as well as various policies, puts African Americans in the position that makes them commit crime. Racial discrimination is therefore still a big issue in America and sometimes it shows when it comes to the criminal justice system. People think that because African Americans are the majority in prisons and jails, they are criminal by nature, therefore, there is a stereotype. These stereotypes leads to Blacks being treated unfairly and and being disadvantaged by policies.