Social violence; racial tensions within Los Angeles county jails - Essay Example

There was report of fighting in Pitchess Detention Center on the Northern fringes of LA where a group of Latino inmates started throwing furniture on a group of African American inmates leaving one dead. This violence led to string of more clashes between Latinos and African American in other jails as well. Observers believe that jail violence is much more than just jail violence. It depicts a great chasm between Latino and African American communities in the new setup. A recent study in 2000 found that state lawmakers have passed more than 400 tough crimes laws since 1992, but sheriff's budget increased only 1 to 2 percent.

Further pressure has been the recent budget cuts of $166 million due to which most of non-violent inmates were released after serving 30 percent of time. Leaving only the most violent people behind the walls. Even though the county taxpayers paid higher amount of tax this year compared to previous two years, things have hardly improved. In LA county jail; state parole violators occupy at least 3000 beds along with new convicted felons that makes it un-necessarily crowded jail. There has been a series of jail clashes mainly between African Americans and Latino inmates.

One recent riot involved about 2000 inmates with 100 injured and one dead. The jail authorities need more lock up for higher risk inmates; however it is not possible due to cut in budgets; as a result gang members and violent criminals freely move among the non-violent offenders which often give rise to violence. Even though there are some twin tower modern correctional facilities that are county high security lockup; but women and mentally ill patients occupy them.The jails are also short of manpower.

Some county jails have one guard for every 50 inmates. Even in the best county jail the ratio is 1 to 10. After the recent spat of violence the county sheriff wanted to hire 1100 deputies to counter the violence, but hiring fast is also a problem. In another incident two inmates were found dead who were injured during a violence rage in county jail. The reason vary but one clear reason for such escalation in incidents has been tougher sentencing laws, such as California three strikes guidance, that have led to increasing number of high risk prisoners staying longer with minor offenders.

However, it is not mere jail where the tensions and violence are so visible, schools are also caught up in similar problem. For the past few decades public schools were predominately populated by African Americans, but the Latino shift in population is changing the tide increasing tension between these two communities. One example was the 2005 widespread fighting between Latinos and Africans Americans that led to deployment of police officers around LA county school.Ironically in 1960s there was a strong alliance between Black Panther Party and the LA Raza Unida Party, where dozens of African Americans and Latino activist joined hands together to fight against discrimination.

That honeymoon period seems to be on decline due to massive Latino immigration and higher birth rates that is changing the balance for African Americans. It is plain but painful truth that relation between African Americans are entangled in cultural and racial misconceptions and misunderstanding.The rise of hatred and social violence is far off cry from the early days of civil rights where African Americans