In Chapter 19 of the Clear, Reisig, and Cole textbook the authors discuss Race, Ethnicity, and Corrections. As an example of the impact of race on the correctional system the authors cite that "people of color are far more likely than whites to get caught up in the criminal justice system" (Page 494). Specifically, they note that the rate of prison and jail incarceration for white American men is about 478 per 100,000, while the rate for Hispanic men is about 820 per 100,000, and for African American men the rate is 1,745 per 100,000. In sum, Hispanic men are incarcerated at a rate approximately two times higher than white men, and Africa American men approximately three times higher than white men. The authors go on to note that African-American make up almost 35 percent of the prison population but only 13 percent of all U.S. residents
Write a short essay (1000 word minimum) which answers the three following questions:
- List and briefly explain three reasons why people of color are overrepresented in American prison and jails.
- Does this overrepresentation present a problem to American Society as a whole? Why?
- What do you think can be done about this problem?
