Why to blacks serve more time in prison for specific crimes

SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1 The Reasoning Surrounding the Disproportionate

Sentences of African American Offenders After

Committing Specific Crimes Within Society [Fill in Institutional Affiliation here and change color back to automatic]

Abstract

On average , African American 's , as opposed to other races , are sentenced to stricter and more severe sentences within the judicial system for specific crimes . This has resulted in longer incarcerations within correctional facilities and institutions across the country for African American offenders . While a plethora of information is available to support this , the U .S

. Department of Justice has set out the facts and figures clearly for any individual to see African Americans are being sentenced in a disproportionate manner within the criminal justice system and the statistics support such

The Reasoning Surrounding the Disproportionate Sentences of

African American Offenders After Committing Specific Crimes Within Society

It is apparent within modern society that a severe and subtle issue which has been ignored for decades , should now be brought to light and addressed . The matter is simple , yet so very complicated in context and solution . It postures itself by and through the support of government demographics and statistical data , showing a disproportionate trend in the sentencing terms of African Americans , who have committed specific criminal offenses , to be more severe than those of all other races . This disproportionate abomination of the law has also fueled , the already exacerbated , racial and ethnic disparities within the African American community . To determine an answer for this unjust trend requires a detailed answer to the fundamental question what are the origins of this disproportionate sentencing system

One might say that it began with the institution of a variety of governmental policies which required mandatory minimum sentencing for certain criminal offenses . However , that would be untrue . The disproportionate sentencing of African Americans began when American policymakers when they perceived African Americans to be a threat to the current society norms . In response , they initiated an enthusiastic uproar over crimes typically committed by the African American race , as opposed to any other race , by instituting the mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines . As a result , low-level offenders were , and still are targeted and are forced to serve severe terms of incarceration rather than having their sentences tailored by judicial discretion (Mauer , 2007 . Offenses like violations of the federal crack cocaine laws and school-zone drug laws have targeted the African Americans within the United States . Even more appalling is the fact that African American men are sentenced to an average of 256months in prison for murder , while whites are typically sentenced to an average of 232months (Durose , 2007

However , policy initiatives similar to mandatory minimums have done little more than accomplish these disproportionate rates in sentencing standards for criminal offenses by African Americans throughout the country . Even with the distinct rise in the number of arrests by law enforcement , it does not come does without a cost to the communities and families of the incarcerated . All to long , the American judiciary has held mandatory minimum sentencing...