Prison Population Statistics Research Paper
According to the NAACP, between 1980 and 2008, the amount of people incarcerated in U.S. prisons have more than quadrupled from 500,000 to roughly over 2.3 million people. The United States consist of 5% of the world population and have 25% of the world prisoners (NAACP). “Combining the number of people in prison and jail with those under parole or probation supervision, 1 in every 31 adults, or 3.2 percent of the population is under some form of correctional control” (NAACP). Statistics from 2007 data show that the prisons are made up of 93% males and 7% females (Prison Population Statistics). In the 2011 statistics, Blacks and Hispanics make up the highest population in America’s prisons (Prison Population Statistics). Today African Americans make 1 million of the United States 2.3 million prison population (NAACP). It is recorded that Blacks are more likely to be incarcerated at a rate six times that of Whites (NAACP). Information reported on Prison Population Statistics state that this rate is that of nine times. This information is staggering considering African Americans and Hispanics only make up one quarter of the US population (NAACP). As stated by the NAACP,
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Other factors are African Americans being sentenced differently than Whites for the same crimes. The zero tolerance policy for school related violence had an adverse effect on black children (NAACP). The mandatory minimum sentencing and the disparities for crack and powder cocaine possession is also a contributing factor (NAACP). “In 2002, blacks constituted more than 80% of the people sentenced under the federal crack cocaine laws and served substantially more time in prison for drug offenses than did whites, despite that fact that more than 2/3 of crack cocaine users in the U.S. are white or Hispanic”
Other factors are African Americans being sentenced differently than Whites for the same crimes. The zero tolerance policy for school related violence had an adverse effect on black children (NAACP). The mandatory minimum sentencing and the disparities for crack and powder cocaine possession is also a contributing factor (NAACP). “In 2002, blacks constituted more than 80% of the people sentenced under the federal crack cocaine laws and served substantially more time in prison for drug offenses than did whites, despite that fact that more than 2/3 of crack cocaine users in the U.S. are white or Hispanic”