According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, one in three black men can expect to go to prison in their lifetime. States like California and Massachusetts are considering legislation to address the disproportionate suspensions among students of color. African American youth have higher rates of juvenile incarceration and are more likely to be sentenced to adult prison. There have been a number of initiatives on the state and federal level to address the racial disparities in youth incarceration. Felony-disenfranchisement policies have led to 11 states denying the right to vote to more than 10 percent of their African American population. And in Clayton County, Georgia, collaborative local reforms have resulted in a 47 percent reduction in juvenile-court referrals and a 51 percent decrease in juvenile felony rates. Students of color face harsher punishments in school than their white peers, leading to a higher number of youth of color incarcerated.
Gia. Age: 30.
The incarceration rates disproportionately impact men of color : 1 in every 15 African American men and 1 in every 36 Hispanic men are incarcerated in comparison to 1 in every white men.
Johanna. Age: 20.
The Top 10 Most Startling Facts About People of Color and Criminal Justice in the United States
Once convicted, black offenders receive longer sentences compared to white offenders. The war on drugs has been waged primarily in communities of color where people of color are more likely to receive higher offenses. African American youth have higher rates of juvenile incarceration and are more likely to be sentenced to adult prison.