Mass Incarceration of African Americans

African Americans face plenty of problems in today’s society. Even with achievements like the abolition of slavery and racial segregation. They still face social and political problems in the 21st century. A critical issue that African Americans face is mass incarceration. As a result of this the increasing number of them being incarcerated versus other races and how it contributes to unemployment and leaves a family unit broken. African Americans are incarcerated more than other races.

According to Roberts (2004), two million inmates in U. S. jails and prisons outnumbered white and Hispanic men in 2002. (436,800) were white men and (235,000) were Hispanic while (586,700) were lack men (Roberts, D. , 2004, p. 1274). Even though they are the most incarcerated they are also not likely to find jobs once they are released. Due to the time they spend in prison many of them lost simple work skills and aren’t even given the equal opportunity to gain the proper work ethics as others. Unequal resources because of criminal backgrounds can be caused because of stratification systems. “ social stratification is a system of structural inequality in which people receive different amounts of society’s valued resources” (Knudsen, 2018, slide 2). An unequal distribution of resources formed by social institutions can stop minorities from providing for their family. As jail becomes common for African American minorities. It has a negative stance on those on the outside. Who now have to manage with the emotional, financial, and economic effects. Children with one or both parents that are behind bars usually act out and repeat the same patterns as their parents.

According to Putnam (2000) “ In areas where social capital is lacking, the effects of poverty, adult unemployment, and family breakdown are magnified, making life much worse for children and adults alike” ( Putnam, 2000, p. 317). In order for African Americans to see change on an issue that they deal with like mass incarceration things must change. First, prosecutors should lower penalties on low-level crimes when suitable. Their sentencing shouldn't direct them behind bars for a long time. Instead, they should find the most reasonable punishment that simply fits the crime.

According to Anzilotti (2017) “ Urban Institute had developed a set of principles that they believe should guide decision-making in the criminal justice system, including that sentences should be proportionate to the crime, that everyone should be offered a meaningful chance of release,” Anzilotti, E. (2017, July 13). Secondly, there should be an end to class inequality. Racism in the criminal justice system is the result of pure discrimination between different racial groups. Especially African American people. If there's going to be change, it has to start with how society judges in the criminal justice system. Mass Incarceration is just one of the many issues facing the African American culture today, but it is critical trying to seek better outcomes. Even though it's hard for African Americans to stand by the government while they are treated unjustly in the court system and lose their families. They still are American citizens.