There indeed is a disparity when it comes to the incarceration of blacks compared to the white population in America. Black offenders are more likely to become arrested, to be found guilty, and to receive harsher sentences than white offenders with in America. But as David Cole goes into offering facts to support the statements above one has to think about the possibility of disproportionate use of drugs. The stereotypic idea that African Americans use and sell more drugs than whites. While still upholding equal enforcement there will be a result in disproportionate incarcerations of African Americans. Although Cole claims there isn’t significant evidence to support this, but one can also go on to think about the consequences of this disparity. That African Americans’ drug use and incarcerations will disable them from finding legitimate jobs and thus further forcing them to a life in a low income career or no career at all. I think the true devastating aspect of this situation is that the disparity continues from generation to generation which constantly strengthens the sense of hopelessness within the African American community.
Another significant topic to be discussed in regards to incarceration is the presence of the three-strike rule with in our criminal justice system. As known by many the purpose of the law is to incapacitate those who would repeatedly cause harm towards society. Yet this rule has been witnessed to incarcerate criminal’s whose third strike was simply a nonviolent crime. The noticeable increase in expenses with in our criminal justice system may be attributed to the use of this three-strike rule. Upon reviewing multiple online sources I had found that since the three-strike policy has been implemented the cost of incarcerating offenders in our prisons has went up by more than 100%. Our prisons will continue to be overcrowded and by placing third strike criminals back into our prisons is just worsening the situation. For the most part, as David Cole agrees, third strike criminals typically go through a very violent phase during their life, but that then fades and they seem to no longer pose as a threat to society. Many who support the policy simply offer the most logical argument that these people are criminals and breaking the law is breaking the law. Yet although this is true I have to push the thought for change due to that the policy impacts our society in more of a negative way than positive. As one can see the three-strike rule amplifies the disparity among incarceration rates of African Americans compared to whites.
The amplification of this disparity can be witnessed with in the inner cities where the density of the African American population is highest in comparison to suburban areas. Simply one can think about how inner city life may consist of stealing or other minor nonviolent crimes to obtain necessities such as food and water. Yet this is where the disparity comes in due to that these crimes, that are deemed harmless to society, may be the third strike for those committing them. This situation diminishes all hope for those in the African American community and places extreme amounts of stress on choosing between survival or the risk of becoming incarcerated. The disparity among incarceration rates between African Americans and whites due to the third strike rule and drug use will continue to drag the African American community into the depths hopelessness. Thus emphasis should and hopefully will be put on changes towards the third strike rule and implementation of changes to drug use policies. With such changes will also allow for a decrease in the amount spent on incarceration and that money can be spent towards education and improving life conditions with in the African American community.
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