Racial Disparities - 2051 Words

Racial Disparities in America’s Judicial System The mandatory imprisonment policies written for the judicial system are creating disparity of minority inmate population primarily due to non-violent drug crimes and the unjust mandatory minimum sentencing laws. America’s prisons are the most populated in the world, and they are disproportionately populated by minorities due to the set of mandatory imprisonment policies set in place. Over the past five decades, the disparity between races has widened dramatically according to the National Center on Institutions. In the 1950’s, blacks and Hispanics were the minorities in the prison system, whereas today whites are. Is this due to poverty? I’m sure poverty plays a big role in most cases.†¦show more content†¦State of Florida verses Fabian Rivera, 2012. Fabian is a family friend, he received a five year mandatory sentence for selling $600.00 worth of cocaine to an undercover police officer. Later to find out he was set up by a high school friend. State of Florida verses Andrew Cleaver, 2012. Andrew was driving under the influence of alcohol when he lost control of his vehicle, killing a friend of mine. Andrew ran from the scene, went home and went to sleep. Two years after the accident, Andrew pled guilty of leaving a scene of an accident and received thirty months in prison. In both cases, each took a plea deal that would reduce their sentences. The sentencing guidelines in both cases are way off in my opinion, leaving me to believe first hand that it is unjust sentencing. This is just an example to show that drug crimes receive a higher prison penalty. According to the Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics in 2011 there were an estimated 197,050 individuals sentenced to prison under federal jurisdiction on December 31, 2011. Of these sentenced, 14,900 were incarcerated for violent offenses. An estimated 10,700 were for property offences, and 94,600 were incarcerated on this date for drug offences. In most states, drug offenses have a higher sentencing causing a disparity among inmate population due to the mandatory minimum guidelines. The mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug crimes should be abolished. Treatment and rehabilitation effortsShow MoreRelatedRacial And Ethnic Disparities Of Health Care2282 Words   |  10 Pages Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care Ksenia Bruner University of St. Francis Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care Introduction Although the United States is a leader in healthcare innovation and spends more money on health care than any other industrialized nation, not all people in the United State benefit equally from this progress as a health care disparity exists between racial and ethnic minorities and white Americans. Health care disparity is defined as â€Å"a particularRead MoreInequity: Ethnic and Racial Disparity in American Health Care1405 Words   |  6 Pagesthere differences (or disparities) rampant throughout our nation’s health care system. These disparities can sometimes indicate that there is unequal treatment of Americans in our nation. In 2002, The Institute of Medicine (IOM) published the leading report, Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care. The report proved there is in-fact, racial and ethnic disparities in American health care, and amid the many health care services available. Disparities in health care areRead MoreRacial And Ethnic Dis parities Throughout Theu.s. Health Care1156 Words   |  5 PagesRacial and Ethnic Disparities in U.S. Health Care There continues to be racial and ethnic disparities in the United States, and these problems need to be addressed since the rate of racial/ethnic populations in the country are steadily rising. According to the 2001 United States Census, â€Å"racial/ethnic minority populations are growing at such a fast rate that by 2050 more than 50% of the population will belong to a minority group† (Weech-Maldonado, Al-Amin, Nishimi, Salam, 2011). Race and ethnicityRead MoreRacial Disparities Within Nursing Home ( Nh ) Care Quality Essay1497 Words   |  6 PagesI. Introduction There exist significant racial disparities in nursing home (NH) care quality. Although some improvements have been made in recent years, Blacks are still more likely to receive suboptimal care in this setting, compared to Whites (1). Blacks are also more likely to be admitted to poorer quality NH’s than Whites (2). There also tend to be racial disparities in psychosocial well-being among NH residents, as determined by lower social engagement among Blacks versus Whites (3). TheseRead MoreRacial Disparities And Gender Disparities900 Words   |  4 Pages When it comes to healthcare racial disparities continue to be an ongoing issue. In fact racial disparities have been a topic of discussion since desegregation. The US Department of Health and Human Services, in 1984 published a report that called attention to the healthcare disparities. The report was called Heath, United States 1983(Dougher, 2015). Within the context of the report there lies a passage that describes the major disparities that are within the burden of illness and death that is experiencedRead MoreRacial Disparity in Sentencing1728 Words   |  7 PagesRacial Disparity in Sentencing Lori Raynor University of Phoenix Cultural Diversity in Criminal Justice CJA/423 Ron McGee September 06, 2010 Abstract In this paper I will illustrate racial disparity in sentencing in the criminal justice system. The causes of racial disparity and the reasons it is on the rise, the research statistics, and the proposed solutions are discussed. Racial Disparity in Sentencing The intersection of racial dynamics with the criminal justice systemRead MoreRacial Disparity in Sentencing1914 Words   |  8 PagesRacial Disparity in Sentencing Racial disparity in sentencing in the criminal justice system is a problematic issue. Individuals often believe that racial disparity in sentencing does not exist; however, substantial proof in the criminal justice system proves otherwise. According to statistics of Marc Mauer, â€Å"unprecedented rise in the populations of prisons over the past three decades is a six fold increase, resulting in the incarceration of nearly two million Americans.† The breakdown of statisticsRead MoreRacial and Ethnic Disparities in Health1371 Words   |  6 PagesRacial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Large disparities exist between minorities and the rest of Americans in major areas of health. Even though the overall health of the nation is improving, minorities suffer from certain diseases up to five times more than the rest of the nation. President Clinton has committed the nation to eliminating the disparities in six areas of health by the Year 2010, and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will be jumping in on this huge battleRead MoreRacial Disparities Of Mass Incarceration1572 Words   |  7 PagesRacial disparities in mass incarceration Introduction Mass Incarceration in the United States has been a large topic of choice because rapid growth in the prison and jail populations, the long sentences the inmates face, and the inability for some inmates to incorporate themselves back into society. Since the 1970’s the U.S. prison population quadrupled from 158 to 635 people per 100,000, causing the U.S. to gain the title of country with the highest incarceration rate. (Massoglia, Firebaugh, Read MoreRace, Racism, And Racial Disparities1551 Words   |  7 Pages Race, Racism, and Racial Disparities in Police Brutality I. Introduction In recent years and in light of recent tragedies, police actions, specifically police brutality, has come into view of a large, public and rather critical eye. The power to take life rests in the final stage of the criminal justice system. However, the controversy lies where due process does not. While the use of deadly force is defined and limited by departmental policies, it remains an act guided chiefly by the judgment of