"76% of all users of illegal drugs are White, yet 70% of drug convictions are Black. ... White youths are one third more likely to have sold drugs than Black youth, yet it is Black youth who get arrested," (p. 150-151, "The Minneapolis Story, Through My Eyes, by Ron Edwards.
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2003 10:31 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] Racial bias in the criminal court system Is it possible that blacks right here in Minneapolis, Minnissippi are over-represented in the criminal court system and prison population due to 'racial profiling' and race-based discrimination? (Over-arrested, -prosecuted, -convicted, -sentenced) "The rate of drug admissions to state prison for black men are thirteen times greater than the rate for white men. A recent report by Human Rights Watch found that while drug use is consistent across all racial groups, Blacks and Latinos are far more likely to be arrested and prosecuted and given long sentences for drug offenses. Blacks constitute 13 percent of all drug users, but 35 percent of those arrested for drug possession, 55 percent of persons convicted, and 74 percent of people sent to prison.(1) Nationally, Latinos comprise almost half of those arrested for marijuana offenses(2) and Native Americans comprise almost 2/3 of those prosecuted for criminal offenses in federal courts.(3) 1. Human Rights Watch Report: Punishment and Prejudice: Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System, May 2000 Vol. 12, No. 2 (G). 2. John D. Couriel, Keep It Real: Recasting the drug debate in terms of accountability and opportunity. 3. U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, "American Indians are Violent Crime Victims at Double the Rate of the General Population," news release, Feb. 14, 1999 Source: http://www.drugpolicy.org/race/criminaljust -Doug Mann, King Field TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
