(04.14.09) "Number of Black Americans in State Prisons Declines" (WaPo)

[Laura Cereta]

For the first time since crack cocaine sparked a war on drugs 20 years ago, the number of black Americans in state prisons for drug offenses has fallen sharply, while the number of white prisoners convicted for drug crimes has increased, according to a report released today.

The D.C.-based Sentencing Project reported that the number of black inmates in state prisons for drug offenses had fallen from 145,000 in 1999 to 113,500 in 2005, a 21.6 percent decline. Over the same period, the number of white drug offenders rose steadily, from 50,700 to more than 72,300, a 42.6 percent increase. The number of Latino drug offenders was virtually unchanged at about 51,000.

The findings represent a significant shift in the racial makeup of those incarcerated for drugs and could signal a gradual change in the demographics of the nation's prison population 2 million, which has been disproportionately black for decades. Drug offenders make up about a quarter of the overall prison population.

The Sentencing Project report and other experts said the numbers could reflect two factors: an increased reliance by prosecutors and judges on prison alternatives such as drug courts, and a shift in police focus to methamphetamines, which are used and distributed mostly by white Americans. In addition, the report said, crack cocaine use has declined steadily since the 1990s, and so have police arrests.
Read more @ Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/14/AR2009041401775.html?hpid%3Dtopnews&sub=AR)

[Jester]

I blame Tao for the rise in White drug arrests.

[Laura Cereta]

More of this story:

The war on drugs began in 1986, when Congress passed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act to combat violence associated with the crack cocaine trade. Lawmakers were prompted by the death of University of Maryland basketball player Len Bias, who they mistakenly believed had died from ingesting crack. Bias overdosed on powder cocaine.

Last year, then-Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.) joined several of his colleagues in saying his support of the legislation was a mistake. As a result of the law, more than a half-million people have been incarcerated for drug offenses in state and federal prison, a massive increase from the 40,000 who were jailed for the same offenses in 1980.

According to a report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics last year, 7.2 million people are under prison supervision, as inmates, parolees and probationers, at a cost of about $45 billion per year.

California, which has one of the nation's largest prison populations, farmed out 170,000 inmates to private prisons as far away as Tennessee in 2006 to relieve costs, and has relaxed its penal code to relieve prison overcrowding.

[BillDemo]

In 1999 there were three times as many black inmates in state prisons for drug offenses as white inmates. In 2005 there were only twice as many blacks as whites...

And this is considered progress? :p

The article seems to ignore the obvious... that drug abuse is still WAY out of control in the black community. Only 10% of the population is black, but 60% of drug offenders are black.

[Tim4Hillary]

According to a report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics last year, 7.2 million people are under prison supervision, as inmates, parolees and probationers, at a cost of about $45 billion per year.

Our prison system is a disaster and though I am very far from being an expert on this topic - - it seems to me we need a major overhaul of the system and the laws. $45 billion per year I'm sure could be better spent.

[Tybee]

One of my biggest problems with certain criminal laws are keeping most records forever. (this has nothing to do with black vs white) At least in Georgia, a DUI is forever, doesn't matter if you never drink and drive in the next 30 years, it stays. This applies to many crimes, and I'm not talking about stuff like murder etc. You can do your time, never get in trouble again, but you're never really cleared. Companies who do background checks (very common now) won't hire you for the most part. I'd like to see where there's some limit of years where this shows up. I'd have no problem if only law enforcement could have access, after a certain amount of time with no more trouble.


(no, this isn't about me, but a cousin whose been through this, and still going through this, after 30+ years)

[TheTaoOfBill]

I blame Tao for the rise in White drug arrests.

Don't blame me. If it were up to me no one would be arrested for using drugs.

[BillDemo]

Don't blame me. If it were up to me no one would be arrested for using drugs.

I never understand this liberal point of view on drugs.

If it were up to me, everyone who uses drugs would die. Immediately.

[Spang]

If it were up to me, everyone who uses drugs would die. Immediately.

Damn. I'd be dead.

Bill Clinton would be dead too. :(

[Meg]

I never understand this liberal point of view on drugs.

If it were up to me, everyone who uses drugs would die. Immediately.

OMG! :rotfl: WOW... for me people wouldn't die but they'd be in jail. No legaliazing drugs for me.:-bd

[Suzan]

Damn. I'd be dead.

Bill Clinton would be dead too. :(
No, Bill didn't inhale. Technically that's not illegal. Like, technically oral s*x isn't sex. But that apparently is illegal--and it can get you impeached.

[Meg]

No, Bill didn't inhale. Technically that's not illegal. Like, technically oral s*x isn't sex. But that apparently is illegal--and it can get you impeached.

OMG You win again! :rotfl:

[BillDemo]

Damn. I'd be dead.

Bill Clinton would be dead too. :(

LOL. I shouldn't have been so hasty.
I really meant hard drugs like heroin, cocaine, crack, speed etc etc.

I wouldn't kill the pot smokers. So Bill is safe, (and so are all you other lazy hippies) :p

[Folamix]

Damn. I'd be dead.

Bill Clinton would be dead too. :(

hell so would Obama

[Laura Cereta]

I never understand this liberal point of view on drugs.

If it were up to me, everyone who uses drugs would die. Immediately.

They DO dies, just not immediately (usually). Drug addiction is a fatal progressive brain illness. Not until we see a change in society's attitude will we even begin to get to the real answers. There IS a solution.

[Spang]

hell so would Obama

Yes. A lot of people.