SOCIAL CONTROL: Just LOOK at the racial disparity of incarceration

[kpete]

I think the statistical evidence is clear that incarceration in the US is primarily about social control, it is not about public safety. That is the public policy foundation in this system. But the prison industry is also largely privatized by the Reagan revolution, the corporatization of the republic.

More (plus lots of links):
http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/019918.php

[Oceansaway]

1. k & r...nt

[xchrom]

2. recommend

[individual rights]

3. I suppose there is a point that could be made with respect to the drug war and social control;

however, the racial disparity of those incarcerated is directly related to the racial disparity of the offenders. For example, black people committed 5,890 murders in 2009. On the other hand, white people committed 5,286 murders. When you consider the fact that 12.6% of the country is black and 72.4% is white, it is clear why so many blacks are incarcerated.

http://www2.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2009/offenses/expanded_information/data/shrtable_03.html

[Distant Observer]

4. While at Stanford, a fellow Phd, son of African King, was arrested for being "uncooperative"

He was stopped "walking while black" on the side of the road for no reason.

He refused to give them his ID and asked for the reason he was being searched.

He was roughed up, hand-cuffed, jailed and had to get a lawyer to get out.

I could give at least 5 amazing stories re the Police and minorities from the good old college days. It is a part of reality that the average American never sees.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

5. knr