Department of Criminal Justice California State University - Bakersfield CRJU 330

1. Department of Criminal Justice California State University - Bakersfield CRJU 330 Race, Ethnicity and Criminal Justice Dr. Abu-Lughod, Reem Ali CORRECTIONS V. COLLEGE

2. people under correctional supervision has increased over the last 3 decades • But also the number of people attending college has also increased • U.S. has highest rates of both • This phenomenon differs by race, ethnicity and gender • More AA and Hispanics are under some form of correctional supervision than are attending college, less than half as many white males are in prison than are under correctional supervision.

3. PRISON POPULATION: AA are overrepresented in prison compared to their number in the general population (they are less than 15% in the population but approx 50% of prison population), also Hispanics (12% of general population but roughly over 16% of prison population), whites (over 70% and 35% of prison population) • Hispanics fastest minority group being incarcerated

4. RACIAL AND ETHNIC FEMALE PRISONERS: • Female prison population has increased at a more rapid rate than males from 1990-2000 (108% versus male 77%). AA (make up largest prison population) and Hispanic female prison population in slightly less than their male counterparts but white female prison population is larger than white males. • Looking at federal prison population is a challenge. For example Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) use race and ethnicity combined while the Federal Bureau of Prisons separates the measure of race form ethnicity (page 301) • AA do not appear as overrepresented in federal prisons • Also it depends on the different types of crimes committed

5. IMPACT OF THE WAR ON DRUGS • JAIL AND MINORITIES: • There are some awaiting trial while some are denied bail. Although some are convicted of misdemeanors, some convicted felons are given a “split sentence” involving jail followed by probation. Also some are just awaiting transfer to a federal prison • AA are overrepresented in jail compared to their representation in public, and whites are underrepresented. However, whites make up the largest proportion of inmates in jails around the country

6. PAROLE • WHAT IS IT • TWO FORMS OF PAROLE: 1) discretionary parole: decision made by a parole board to “conditionally release prisoners based on a statutory or administrative determination of eligibility”, 2) mandatory parole: occurs using determinate sentencing statutes. Inmates conditionally released from prison after serving a portion of their original sentence minus any good time earned. • AA comprise a larger population of those released on parole, but parole revocation requires a closer look

7. PERSPECTIVES ON RACIAL DISTRIBUTION OF CORRECTIONAL POPULATIONS • Mann argues that there is systematic discrimination • Wilbanks contends that systematic discrimination is a myth

8. RACE AND RELIGION: • Form of rehabilitation • Black Muslim movement. The most influential one was the Nation of Islam, founded by Elijah Muhammad (born Elijah Poole). It had special appeal to incarcerated black males. • Nation of Islam preached pride and resistance to white oppression

9. 1960 the American Correctional Assoc refused to recognize the legitimacy of the Muslim religion because it was a “cult’ that disrupted the prison culture. Prison official were banning the Koran in prison. Lawsuits resulted as a response to that. 1962 the Supreme Ct. in Fulwood v. Clemmer ordered the D.C. Dept. of corrections to stop treating Muslims differently from other religious groups. • Five Percent, AA started in Harlem in 1964, called themselves the nation of Gods (men) and Earths (women) • Asatru in 1972 in Iceland and profess nine noble virtues.

10. PRISON GANGS: • Texas Syndicate (majority Hispanic) • Texas Mafia (majority white) • Aryan Brotherhood of Texas • Mandingo Warriors (AA, but less organized) • WOMEN IN PRISON