Institutional Racism: Alive and Well

[wgbgator]

http://gawker.com/5984521/with-or-without-sentencing-guidelines-black-men-get-screwed

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324432004578304463789858002.html?m od=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5

Prison sentences of black men were nearly 20% longer than those of white men for similar crimes in recent years, an analysis by the U.S. Sentencing Commission found.

That racial gap has widened since the Supreme Court restored judicial discretion in sentencing in 2005, according to the Sentencing Commission's findings, which were submitted to Congress last month and released publicly this week.

Judicial discretion is a good thing, but it seems to yield scary results in how sentences are handed out. How do we approach this problem?

[exiledgator]

Step 1: Legalize drugs.

[QGator2414]

"The commission, which is part of the judicial branch, was careful to avoid the implication of racism among federal judges, acknowledging that they "make sentencing decisions based on many legitimate considerations that are not or cannot be measured."

This addresses my one question but does not answer it with any studies.

What is the background of these criminals before they get sentenced? Does race have a factor in criminal history. If blacks are targeted over whites giving them a longer rap sheet then at is an issue as well. I am not sure there is institutional racism going on though.

Is not the majority of black crime committed against other blacks? I am not sure on this.

That said if there is racism that is going on we need to address it...

[QGator2414]

Step 1: Legalize drugs.

I go 50/50 on this but I would definitely stop sending people to jail for weed...

[HALLGATOR]

What is the background of these criminals before they get sentenced? .

Good point, This would have to be factored in to make the comparison equitable.

[baygator1]

It seems there is some disagreement about the supporting data and conclusions...

"They've only got data on this final slice of the process, but they are still missing crucial parts of the criminal-justice process," said Sonja Starr, a law professor at the University of Michigan, who has analyzed sentencing and arrest data and found no marked increase in racial disparity since 2005.

It would be interesting to see sentencing results by race of the judge.

If all else fails, we can ban crime - automatically makes sentencing discretion moot.

[exiledgator]

I go 50/50 on this but I would definitely stop sending people to jail for weed...

I think it could help equalize sentencing.

Admittedly, I didn't read the article, but I wonder if their data includes the pre-2010 crack guidelines.

Now for some broad stereotyping; drugs are (rightly or wrongly) widely considered a scourge for black / hispanic communities and sentences in turn end up harsher as a means of eliminating the scourge. Whereas in white communities drug charges are the result of an innocent that temporarily lost their way. A light sentence is all that is needed to correct this mis-step.

[NJG8tor]

"The commission, which is part of the judicial branch, was careful to avoid the implication of racism among federal judges, acknowledging that they "make sentencing decisions based on many legitimate considerations that are not or cannot be measured."

This addresses my one question but does not answer it with any studies.

What is the background of these criminals before they get sentenced? Does race have a factor in criminal history. If blacks are targeted over whites giving them a longer rap sheet then at is an issue as well. I am not sure there is institutional racism going on though.

Is not the majority of black crime committed against other blacks? I am not sure on this.

That said if there is racism that is going on we need to address it...

That is my question as well. Do the statistics account for prior criminal history? And yes most crime committed by blacks is black on black.

[g8orbill]

wg- maybe they committed worse crimes

http://www.hhscenter.org/bonbstat.html

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304830704577496501048197464.html

[Minister_of_Information]

Step 2. Legalize drugs.

[NJG8tor]

Step 2. Legalize drugs.

I agree with somewhat. But a large number of those arrested are serious criminals and not only recreational drug users. Will the criminals decide to work at McDonalds or finish high school when the drug trade dries up? I suspect they will find some other criminal enterprise.

[Spurffelbow833]

I agree with somewhat. But a large number of those arrested are serious criminals and not only recreational drug users. Will the criminals decide to work at McDonalds or finish high school when the drug trade dries up? I suspect they will find some other criminal enterprise.

Abolish all victimless crimes. You can set minimum ages for buying drugs.

[Minister_of_Information]

I agree with somewhat. But a large number of those arrested are serious criminals and not only recreational drug users. Will the criminals decide to work at McDonalds or finish high school when the drug trade dries up? I suspect they will find some other criminal enterprise.

But do you agree with Step 1 also?

[Dreamliner]

"The commission, which is part of the judicial branch, was careful to avoid the implication of racism among federal judges, acknowledging that they "make sentencing decisions based on many legitimate considerations that are not or cannot be measured."

This addresses my one question but does not answer it with any studies.

What is the background of these criminals before they get sentenced? Does race have a factor in criminal history. If blacks are targeted over whites giving them a longer rap sheet then at is an issue as well. I am not sure there is institutional racism going on though.

Is not the majority of black crime committed against other blacks? I am not sure on this.

That said if there is racism that is going on we need to address it...

Last time I checked, blacks were MANY times more likely to commit crimes against whites than the reverse. Talk about institutional racism.

[gatorman_07732]

wg- maybe they committed worse crimes

http://www.hhscenter.org/bonbstat.html

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304830704577496501048197464.html

It can also be that they are repeat offenders, but hey lets just yell racism