Minorities are gravely over-represented in every stage of the criminal justice process. When you think of a prisoner, what comes to mind? Most people will typically think of a male of a race other than Caucasian. This minority over-representation has been debated for many years. However, institutional racism in society seems to continue on and seems far too complex to find any sort of solution.
According to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), “In 1997, minorities made up about one-third of the juvenile population nationwide but accounted for nearly two-thirds of the detained and committed population in secure juvenile facilities.” These are the numbers that illustrate the overrepresentation of minorities in the Criminal justice system. Also according to OJJDP, one out of every 21 African American men are in prison or jail. Nearly one third of African American men are in some aspect of the criminal justice system whether it be prison, jail, probation or parole. These statistics show that minorities are more likely to be referred to juvenile court, be detained, face trials as adults, and go to jail rather than white youth who commit comparable crimes. These alarming facts raise suspicion to whether or not the criminal justice system is bias towards race.
With the forever growing prison population, this overrepresentation of minorities affects the general masses as well. For minorities the Criminal Justice System seems not to address them as equals but rather natural criminals who do not deserve a fair shot at justice. It also affects the masses because it hits them not with racial disparity, but rather their bank accounts. According to United States prison facts, “The combined expenditures of local governments, state governments, and the federal government for law enforcement and corrections total over $200 billion annually”, meaning the funding for the Criminal Justice System is taken through our taxes. So, not only do minorities suffer, but the masses do as well. The overrepresentation of minorities in the Criminal Justice system is a problem in society that affects everyone and needs to be resolved quickly and efficiently.
