This news article addresses the issue of the mass amount of kids in jail and who is most likely to be in jail. In this article, the author uses many key statistics of the amount of colored kids and teens in jail. In the beginning, the article starts with the amount of kids in jail then proceeds to tell us the percentage of colored kids versus the percentage of non colored kids in jail. Next, it focuses on the amount and increase of people that have been incarcerated just in the past few years and why they have most likely been sentenced. Lastly, the author then states what actions have been taken to stop this and mentions the committees that have formed to help those who have been targeted by this issue. The intended audience is parents who
Most black Americans are under the control of the criminal justice today whether in parole or probation or whether in jail or prison. Accomplishments of the civil rights association have been challenged by mass incarceration of the African Americans in fighting drugs in the country. Although the Jim Crow laws are not so common, many African Americans are still arrested for very minor crimes. They remain disfranchised and marginalized and trapped by criminal justice that has named them felons and refuted them their rights to be free of lawful employment and discrimination and also education and other public benefits that other citizens enjoy. There is exists discernment in voting rights, employment, education and housing when it comes to privileges. In the, ‘the new Jim crow’ mass incarceration has been described to serve the same function as the post civil war Jim crow laws and pre civil war slavery. (Michelle 16) This essay would defend Michelle Alexander’s argument that mass incarcerations represent the ‘new Jim crow.’
In many nation states, it is noticed that there is a disproportionate number of black people especially those youngsters going through the criminal justice system. The overrepresentation is illustrated by related data released by the U.S. Department of Justice and the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee. In America, almost 3500 per 100,000 residents of the black male were sent to jail in 2013 which was over seven times more than the ratio their white counterpart had and in England and Wales, 8.5% of young black people aged between 10-17 were arrested during the same period .This essay aims to explore the reasons behind the ethnic overrepresentation in the criminal justice system and believes that the higher rate of offending for some race groups and the existence of systematic racist which partially stems from the contemporary media distortion are attributive to the overrepresentation.
The New Jim Crow primarily appeals to more mature audiences consisting of young adults and adults of various socioeconomic backgrounds and races, those already incarcerated, policy makers, and those that are skeptical about these racial issues in the criminal justice system. While it may seem that Alexander’s book limits readers by forcing them to formulate their own interpretation of the information presented which can ultimately downplay the severity of the issues at hand, her substantial amount of credible facts and statistics forces the reader to step out of their comfort zone and truly visualize the staggering statistics presented. While The House I Live In and The New Jim Crow are both effective and complement one another, Alexander’s use of concrete statistics and factual information fails to dominate the heavy use of imagery and ethical appeals Jarecki’s uses in conjunction with the statistics presented in his
School-to-prison pipeline embodies an unescapable and intimidating horror for juveniles today, because they are being put into the criminal justice from minor offenses (Messinger, 2016). It is punishable by a ticket, court appearance, and even put away in prison or a juvenile detention center. Also, this includes the presence of a police officer at the schools, School Reference Office (SRO), which included harsh tactics, physical restraint, punishments that result in suspensions, expulsion, or “push out” of class (Elias, 2013). With this research, I tend to find why are low income, racial minorities are being targeted and how are they are being
In the most recent years, the relationship between educational institutions and the juvenile justice system, which was once created to protect children, has displayed an ultimatum for minors through “zero tolerance” policies that result in sending individuals from school to prison to pipeline. Studies have shown that these policies are not beneficial to students or the educational environment that should be guaranteed to children. Opponents argue that the policies promote safety, but through this research it can be concluded that the policies actually increase danger. Studies demonstrate the factors that affect the enforcement of these policies which include media, the sociopolitical atmosphere, and the racial disproportionality, yet there are valid solutions for this issue that can be explored.
The article reviewed serves as a compliment to the research on school policies and its connection to the juvenile court, and how the school-to-prison pipeline has been created. The research article is “Education or Incarceration: Zero Tolerance Policies and the School to Prison Pipeline”. The theme focuses on the flourishing trend in public schools across America that criminalizes students’ minor disciplinary issues as a part of the emerging “zero tolerance” disciplinary policies and the factors that come along with it. This article separates itself from others by noting the influence of media on today’s youth and adults. The influence of media on youth and adults shines light on violence, stereotypes and provides insight on why mass incarceration is occurring so steadfastly. Throughout the article it is evident that the effects from zero tolerance policies are negative. People continue to question the use because no impact on school safety has been detected from the use of these disciplinary guidelines. From this research and other similar research, many authors have concluded that ...
The book "Punished: Policing the Lives of Black and Latino Boys" is written by Victor M. Rios, who was a former gang member in his hometown and later turned his life around. He went to Berkeley and earned a doctorate in sociology. This book explores how youth of color are punished and criminalized by authorities even under the situation where there is no crimes committed and how it can cause a harmful consequence for the young man and their community in Oakland, California. The goal is to show the consequences of social control on the lives of young people of color and try to remind the authorities. This is important Since society plays a crucial part in shaping the lives of people. And the authorities have biases towards them and mistreat
Mass incarceration may not seem like major issue to people, but according to article by Melinda D. Anderson it is causing the life of some children also their families. The growth of incarceration of black people presumably seems to be increasing, particularly more within the US. According to Naacp.org, “African Americans are incarcerated at nearly six times the rate of whites” therefore as those people are being incarcerated, it’s causing problems not only for them but also for their families as well. The children of incarcerated people are being criticized in school by their friends. Without having proper guardianship, a student’s academic life tends to fall. The article “How
It provides numbers to support the ratio of the race of children who are affected by the incarceration. The quantitative study outlines the educational attainment. Though the research focuses more on the parents it is a direct reflection on the children who suffer; especially poor black children living in urban cities. The statistical Kansas Law review, addresses many elements of the mass incarceration; family life, marriage, education, dropout rate, the stigma and don’t show a decline. However, the study, exemplifies the need for changes in the systems that incarcerates at alarming rates; systems that don’t take the lingering collateral effects of the children into
In today’s society, race and socioeconomic standing can determine the quality of treatment one receives while in the criminal justice system. Racial inequality and discrimination seems to be a permanent fixture within the criminal justice system, and the juvenile justice system is no exception when it comes to that form of injustice. As it is depicted in the PBS documentary, a teenage boy named Shawn from a white, upper-middle class family was first arrested after he stabbed his father multiple times while he was sleeping in a brutal murder attempt. Apart from the attempted murder charge, Shawn also racked up a charge of sexual assault against a fellow juvenile hall cellmate and also a drug charge when he got caught smoking pot while he was
The Disproportionate Minority Confinement is disproportionate representation of the minority youth in the Juvenile Justice system. DMC became core requirement under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act 1974. Minorities were over presented as perpetrators and underrepresented as victims. The DMC has four components: identify to the cause, asset the problem, to identify the causes, and to develop and help to create a plan to decrease the problem. The Disproportionate Minority Confinement (DMC) of Youth: An Analysis of State and Federal Efforts to Address the Issue by Michael Leiber gave the readers a background and summary of the DMC report and focused on the effort put forward by the state and federal to decrease the overrepresentation
The United States is home to 5% of the world’s population but 25% of the world’s prisoners. Also, African Americans are incarcerated five times more likely than White Americans. During the 1990s, black kids from rough neighborhoods were deemed as “super-predators”, kids who have no remorse, conscience, and respect for human life. The super-predator theory has been very effective in putting little kids in jail. Therefore, the super-predator theory has extremely negatively impacted the criminal justice system by contributing to wrongful conviction of youths and eliminating mitigating factors.
Juvenile delinquency is a conduct by a juvenile or a person below the legal age that is above parental control thus dealt with by the law. Crime in this case cannot be punishable by death or life imprisonment. There are many cases of juvenile delinquency in recent times that have raised many issues in the United State’s legal systems. There are many ways of explaining juvenile delinquency and crime when it comes to; cause, results, and legal actions pertaining to crimes. Alex Kotlowitz in his book, “There Are No Children Here” focuses on crime and juvenile delinquency through life experiences. This story is about the life of two boys who the author researched for a few years. The two boys were from Chicago, grew up in a poor family, surrounded by poverty, gangs, and violence as do many of us who come from low income, minority filled areas. The two boys unfortunately, sad to say end up in juvenile hall which clearly depicts the whole concept of crime and juvenile delinquency that arises from more issues than simply meets the eye . Issues relating to the social disorganization theory of poverty, disorganization, and low community control. This paper will analyze the story using themes that relate to juvenile delinquency and further discuss causes and ways to control juvenile delinquency
The article gives insight on racial disparity in the juvenile justice system and how it play a crucial role in sentencing. The article explain in depth detailed what is racial disparities, for example similar crime, but however dissimilar treatment based on race. The article argues how racial disparity is effecting the African American communities. The impact on the life prospects for the African American males. The article illustrates the prevalent nature how the juvenile justice process are enclosing an ethnic group in prison and leaving families to cope with the problem of having a love one incarcerated mostly their adolescent years; instead a given alternative that is more feasible. The article gives detailed how the greater population
In 2011, youth of color[3] under the age of 21 represented 45 percent of the youth in the United States, but accounted for 71 percent of youth held in detention nationwide, and 66 percent of youth committed to juvenile facilities upon a determination of delinquency.[4] When the data is broken down by decision point in the juvenile justice system, it shows disparities for youth of color at every stage – arrest, referrals to juvenile court, detention, youth petitioned to juvenile court, youth placed in juvenile facilities after adjudication, and youth waived to adult court.[5] For state-by-state and county information, see this interactive online map from the Burns Institute on racial disparities in juvenile justice systems across the