Tribulations of the Young African American Males on the Criminal Justice System - Term Paper Example

Tribulations of the Young African American Male on the Criminal Justice System Introduction Youthful African American males have increasingly suffered in the Criminal Justice System, which is typically lined out as amongst the greatest social ills in the contemporary US society. The continuation of the trend denies the group of hope of becoming productive members of the society. The economic existence of the African youth exposes to the extreme extents of unjust judicial process due extreme poverty levels in the current society. The greatest and overriding question is when will the societal ill on the African American youths end? Will the economic disparity in the community ever come to an end? Does the established typically alienates and discriminates against the blacks? The independence of the African origin people in the US has been systematically getting touch. The climax of the scenario was the rise of the black president into power that was thought to hamper the existent structure in place earlier (Jones et al., 58). Background and history Historically, the economic levels of the African American have been in question, and thus proper representation in the legal process has been a challenge (Weatherspoon& Floyd, 75). In terms undertaking the economic activities, African youths have always faced unfair wrath of the American laws. The youth has always been exposed to undesirable scenario by the lack of decent education, health care, housing and employment. With the need to contribute to the economic development of US, the urge to try and keep afloat has led some of them to drug and criminal activities. The economic status of the black Americans was ignored. In fact, statistics confirms that African Americans are possibly likely to be victimized on crime as compared to other groups of people (Jones et al., 53). The scenario further lessens the hopes for the African American youth and the community at large hence resulting to a great loss in economic prospects. In the process, a huge chunk of economically active people is neglected. The dramatic levels at which African American male people have come on the form of criminal justice regulation and the entailed supervision has created a multifaceted set of consequences and repercussions on the entire society. The tragedies undergone by the African American males do not only affect them but also extends to their families. Consequently, there exist critical projections in the future if the model and policy trend is to continue. Activities in most American courts reveals a sea of black and brown faces piled up in the defense tables or even being transported from court to another. In most of the courts, girlfriend, mother and wives of blacks are the majority of the visitors to American courts. The American courts have created very unpleasant conditions of the courts, but there are current upsurge and push demanding reforms into the system. There was a shift in American policy after abolition of education grant on American children following the congressional action in 1994 for inmates (Falk & Gerhard, 90). Tribulations of the Young African American Male on the Criminal Justice System According to (Weatherspoon& Floyd,65), tribulations of the Young African American Male on the Criminal Justice System extend from extensive neglect and rejection in terms of employment, health sector to economic status of the people (Alexander& Michelle, 39). Most African youths stand a chance of being highly incriminated as compared to the other youths of the society. Various states have always passed their structures of legislation denying inmates admission to various forms of leisure or even entailed cultural activities which inhibit the activity of the inmates. The policies enacted by the various states have been only relevant in limiting the African American while at jails. The policies are highly mean-spirited b and very counterproductive as they mostly create limitations to prisoners’ access to the attainment of skills which may help in constructively raising the standards of living for Americans. The acquired skills would highly help in restoring the social order amongst the blacks after returning back to their societies. Since most of the members of the criminal justice system are mainly blacks, the policies are directed towards reducing their economic importance in America. According to updated statistics, 49% of prison member inmates nationally mainly consist of African American, but the population of the African American is normally 13% nationally. It is surprising that in average, practically one in three corresponding to (32%) black males falling in the age group between 20 and 29 is subjected on forms of criminal justice command (Williams & LaVerne, 78). The results are the classification according to any one typical day either in jail, prison, probation and even parole. Historically, in 1995, nearly one in fourteen representing close to (7%) adult black males was imprisoned in prison according to the daily statistic. This case represented a doubling of the earlier statistics as recorded in 1985 but in 1995, only 1% of whites were in jails. The statistic reveals that a black man born around 1991 has virtually 29% chances of spending moment in prison in one point and his life. In same proportions, white males have chances are close to 4% while Hispanics have 16% chances of spending their lifetime in jails. The Hispanic suffering in the American system comes second after African American in the criminal and justice system. A close statistical trend is nearly notable in the incarceration of black which is seven times that of the white women. The enhanced operation of civil rights movement activism has led at least to slow incorporation of the blacks into the jurisdiction avenues and positions thus opening economic opportunities to African. The civil rights movement is a critical show of possible opening of the economic opportunities for the blacks in the future though only under continuous actions of activism support. The journey to obtaining equality in the American criminal system would eventually turn out good to blacks. The American society is slowly showing opening up of the entire economic opportunities for the disadvantaged members of the society (Falk & Gerhard, 95). Consistent with Alexander& Michelle (69), the country has been transforming slowly and at present black faces is notable in positions as police chiefs, prison 1 and judges. There has been intensified collapse of African American contribution to the American economy thus rejecting and alienating the Africans. Earlier absence of formal employment rejects the African American to unlawful models of living including engaging in drug trafficking businesses which has thorough impacts on the economic stands of the blacks. The arrests made from on drugs illegal trade has always presented harsher sentencing policies which typically have prompted the immense t expansion of drug offenders in the existent jails systems (Williams &LaVerne, 38). According to statistics, an average of one in every sixteen people in the state prisons was mainly inmates typically incarcerated on concerns of drugs drug issue offenses. On the assumption of 1995, nearly one of every four prisoners was in jail due to drug offense. There was a statistical increase from 19000 recorded in 1980 to eventual 225,000 as recorded in 1995 representing close to 1000% augment in a period of close to fifteen-year period. The comparison with federal reveals slightly low number but the fractional increase is equally similar as recordable in the state prisons. It is worth noting that there was a record of 4,900 federal drugs involved jailed people which stood for 25% of the inmate populace in 1980. The statistics grew to 51,700 which represent a 60%, by year 1995 and thus looking at the prisons and corresponding jails there is a current approximate of 400,000 inmates. This entails group of people either awaiting trial or even serving time having committed offenses on drugs (Leukefel & Carl, 78). This fraction emanates out of the entire population of close to 1.7 million intimates. All jail and criminal system policies’ continuous formulation have always been directed towards inflicting the blacks’ community instead of correcting and rehabilitating them to be helpful portion of the American society. In the drugs section, the American fraction of arrest rose from 25% in the year 1980 to eventual 37% in 1995 thus showing pathetic trends criminal issues. With regards to drugs issues, only black Americans and Hispanics have the highest chances of being incarcerated. The American criminal systems have always shown a corresponding racial bias in terms relation to managing of the jails operations (Falk & Gerhard, 99). The contemporary inclusions of the jurisdictions minorities who have typically shifted to positions of leadership in the law enforcement sector including courts and other corrections structures. The formulation of the Supreme Court has continuously designed decisions aimed at placing restrictions on typical practices, for instance, the prosecutorial bias in choosing a jury. Without emphasizing on the escalated constructive changes and alternations in the criminal management issue, there have been intensive racial disproportions which have typically worsened over this stage and period. Under the evaluation and assessment of the criminal justice system, there has been increased disparity which contributed to mixed perceptions and research in the sector. There has been the imposition of the death penalty which provides the mainly persuasive evidence for continuing racial disparity in the sector. The racial backgrounds of the offender have always been used in the determination of life imprisonment or death sentence as a variable as most of the African normally selected for death sentences. There are intense perception and arguments of the essence that there are reasonable grounds for acknowledging racial discrimination in US.AN example is notable from the research and conclusion regarding statistical findings which inform that murder defendants charged in killing of whites highly faced close to a 4.3 times chances of receiving the death penalty. This is highly non-proportionate as compared to people accused of killing blacks (Jones et al., 58). Research does reveal a great amount of relevant data on whether the existent data can reveal minorities receiving harsher sentences as compared to whites. Continuously, various grouping of studies have always indicated that there is typically little difference in sentences passed or imposed when controlling for pertinent variables. The variation extends on the severity of the wrongdoing or even aimed at the offender after the record criminal act. Some states have tried amending their racial issues as indicated on the statistics in California which reveal that it has comparable comprehensible sentences despite of race for the majority of offenses (Falk & Gerhard, 99). According to Alexander& Michelle (89), American criminal structure has failures bordering on the class and racial inclination. It is worth noting that failures are supported by intense evidence indicating a criminal justice system that typically and often heavily overlay on considerations of class. The other notable feature is that attached racial disparities are normally related in fraction to the large extents on the volume of criminal cases committed. The functioning of criminal justice system is easily swayed by the function of entailed differing inherent forms of dealings that consistently border on the entire background and varying resources owned by the offender. According to statistics from National Youth Survey, has typically acknowledged several intriguing patterns regarding the youths. There is a Self-reported increased rate of offending modes and behaviors on the most of the young males which are high across entire racial groups. The research intimates that nearly 42% of males have equally reported having participated or engaged in various actions of violent offenses (Jones et al., 56). The typical counts of violent actions that have been noted amongst youths entail robbery, aggravated assaults or even rape. At attaining the age of 27, research also show that African American are comparably exposed to serious cruel offending at elevated rates as compared to white males. At the age of 27, nearly 48% of black males usually have reported at slightest one instance of inherent debilitating behavior which is slightly higher figure compared to 38% for most of the white males. This statistic narrows to a ratio of close to about 5:4. In lower class of the males, it is revealed tinier difference as the ratio nears 7:6 black to white. However, in most cases, offense committed is usually likely to lead to arrests in comparison to crimes committed by the whites (Williams &LaVerne, 98). There is also critical on the adolescent that typically reveal how male adolescent consists of nearly 3:2 having a black /white differential ratio. In conclusion, it is worth noting that the American society is still transforming, and the social ill committed on various races will eventually come to end as time elapses. The community needs a transformative teaching informing them of the importance of crusading for racial equality. African American should equally be entailed in raising the standards of economy if critical developments are expected in the country. The contribution of black’s economic segment is highly needed in the eventual transformation of the sphere. Denial of appropriate structure to provide systemic development of a singular American society reveals an extensive hatred spread by the white race on the other races and indicates the remaining chunks of the former racial segregation that is systematically reducing. The African American male still have hope, but only unified movement to show discontent with the existing ruling and policies of America. America still has strong reasons to entail and incorporate all racing of in equal development of the social structure of the American to provide equal opportunities to all races. The introduction of programs aimed at transforming the low earners segment of the economy should be enhanced as it would contribute to fighting drug dealings and business. Equal opportunities would typically create a conducive environment where every American felt a cared for and cherished in the American society. Employers must be compelled to offer equal employment to various races in order to reduce the ever expanding social disorder in the community. Works cited Second Chances in the Criminal Justice System: Alternatives to Incarceration and Reentry Strategies. Washington, D.C: American Bar Association, Commission on Effective Criminal Sanctions, 2007. Print. Falk, Gerhard. The American Criminal Justice System: How It Works, How It Doesnt , and How to Fix It. Santa Barbara, Calif: Praeger, 2010. Print. Weatherspoon, Floyd D. African-american Males and the Us Justice System of Marginalization: A National Tragedy. , 2014. Internet resource. Jewell, K S. Survival of the African American Family: The Institutional Impact of U.s. Social Policy. Westport, Conn: Praeger, 2003. Print. Weatherspoon, Floyd D. African-american Males and the Law: Cases and Materials. Lanham: University Press of America, 1998. Print. Leukefeld, Carl G. Handbook of Evidence-Based Substance Abuse Treatment in Criminal Justice Settings. New York: Springer, 2011. Print. Williams, LaVerne M. Q. Women, Crime and the Criminal Justice System. New York, NY: Feminist Press at the City University of New York, 2004. Print. Jones-Brown, Delores D, Beverly D. Frazier, and Marvie Brooks. African Americans and Criminal Justice: An Encyclopedia. , 2014. Print. Alexander, Michelle. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. New York: New Press, 2010. Internet resource. The State of Criminal Justice 2007-2008. Chicago: American Bar Association, 2008. Print. Read More