Comments on: Addressing Racial Disparities: Drug Arrests and Incarceration http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/05/23/addressing-racial-disparities-drug-arrests-and-incarceration/ Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:22:54 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Veterinarian Gives Blacks ONE MORE REASON To Despise Police! | The People’s Voice Weekly News & Blogs http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/05/23/addressing-racial-disparities-drug-arrests-and-incarceration/comment-page-1/#comment-6491 Veterinarian Gives Blacks ONE MORE REASON To Despise Police! | The People’s Voice Weekly News & Blogs Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:36:07 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=279#comment-6491 [...] Podcast on Sunday evening, May 18, 2008 from 7:00pm - 8:30pm.   Rated Information Posted At:  Racism Review, and Peoples Voice Radio [...] [...] Podcast on Sunday evening, May 18, 2008 from 7:00pm – 8:30pm.   Rated Information Posted At:  Racism Review, and Peoples Voice Radio [...]

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]]> By: Claire Renzetti http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/05/23/addressing-racial-disparities-drug-arrests-and-incarceration/comment-page-1/#comment-5915 Claire Renzetti Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:07:55 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=279#comment-5915 Thanks for your comment, Linda. I agree that much more attention must be paid to the prison industrial complex, including saturation policing of poor and minority neighborhoods. These are clearly civil rights issues, as you point out. Thanks, too, for sharing your blog address. I hope readers of RacismReview will check it out. You have some important information posted there. Thanks for your comment, Linda. I agree that much more attention must be paid to the prison industrial complex, including saturation policing of poor and minority neighborhoods. These are clearly civil rights issues, as you point out. Thanks, too, for sharing your blog address. I hope readers of RacismReview will check it out. You have some important information posted there.

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]]> By: Dr Linda Shelton http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/05/23/addressing-racial-disparities-drug-arrests-and-incarceration/comment-page-1/#comment-5910 Dr Linda Shelton Tue, 25 Nov 2008 23:10:48 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=279#comment-5910 THE PRISON INDUSTRIAL SYSTEM IS DESTROYING AMERICA AND TEARING DOWN THE ECONOMY You have all the facts. Minorities are disproportionately penalized simply for being poor and being minorities. I consider this genocide as it destroys families, communities, and minorities in general spiritually, financially, physically, and culturally. I don't understand why reforming the prison-industrial complex in America is not the civil rights issue of the decade! One in ten jobs in America are related to the prison industrial complex. We incarcerate 40 times more individuals than any civilized country and the same number of citizens as China which has five times our population. This is a tremendous burden on our economy. We don’t produce saleable goods or increase the gross national product from our prison industry. Our tax base is eroded when all of these people don’t work. Huge health care costs, not paid for by those using it (the prisoners) increase the public expenses. Welfare and Medicaid expenditures are bloated by the needs of the families of the incarcerated who can no longer support them. Potentially productive workers for new high tech and energy industries are frozen in dead end jobs (correctional officers and employees), when they could be producing saleable goods and services while increasing our country’s productivity. Salvageable workers are thrown to the wind by ignoring and vastly underfunding drug and alcohol abuse treatment and mental health treatment. Our 40 year experiment concerning being “tough on crime” has failed miserably. Ultimately we will be increasing the crime rate as angry, hostile, untrained prisoners, whose mental illness, addiction, and bad habits are ignored, are released into the population - as we reap the fruits of that which we sow. The ranks of those being released each year are growing exponentially as the steadily increasing numbers incarcerated are released - now about 600,000 persons a year. I believe until: we take the profit out of the prison-industrial complex; increase transparency in contracting, juvenile justice, mental health care, training of officers and staff, and policy decisions; increase training for correctional officers and most importantly for parole officers (who have the toughest and most complex law enforcement job in the country); take corruption out of the system (particularly in Illinois where all contracts with the State require a 10% kickback or bribe, leading to hiring unqualified patronage workers as officials and officers of the prison system); legalize marijuana and control it like tobacco or alcohol to free up law enforcement, prosecutors, and the courts to deal with more substantial crimes;and most importantly add rehabilitation into the prison system so that the prisoners who are released become productive citizens; as well as abolish the costly and useless death penalty, the system will remain hopeless broken and costly, helping to drive our economy into the ground. For more information about corruption in the Illinois and Cook County prison/court systems see my blog: http://illinoiscorruption.blogspot.com/ THE PRISON INDUSTRIAL SYSTEM IS DESTROYING AMERICA AND TEARING DOWN THE ECONOMY

You have all the facts. Minorities are disproportionately penalized simply for being poor and being minorities. I consider this genocide as it destroys families, communities, and minorities in general spiritually, financially, physically, and culturally. I don’t understand why reforming the prison-industrial complex in America is not the civil rights issue of the decade!

One in ten jobs in America are related to the prison industrial complex. We incarcerate 40 times more individuals than any civilized country and the same number of citizens as China which has five times our population.

This is a tremendous burden on our economy. We don’t produce saleable goods or increase the gross national product from our prison industry. Our tax base is eroded when all of these people don’t work. Huge health care costs, not paid for by those using it (the prisoners) increase the public expenses. Welfare and Medicaid expenditures are bloated by the needs of the families of the incarcerated who can no longer support them. Potentially productive workers for new high tech and energy industries are frozen in dead end jobs (correctional officers and employees), when they could be producing saleable goods and services while increasing our country’s productivity. Salvageable workers are thrown to the wind by ignoring and vastly underfunding drug and alcohol abuse treatment and mental health treatment.

Our 40 year experiment concerning being “tough on crime” has failed miserably. Ultimately we will be increasing the crime rate as angry, hostile, untrained prisoners, whose mental illness, addiction, and bad habits are ignored, are released into the population – as we reap the fruits of that which we sow. The ranks of those being released each year are growing exponentially as the steadily increasing numbers incarcerated are released – now about 600,000 persons a year.

I believe until:

we take the profit out of the prison-industrial complex;
increase transparency in contracting, juvenile justice, mental health care, training of officers and staff, and policy decisions;
increase training for correctional officers and most importantly for parole officers (who have the toughest and most complex law enforcement job in the country);
take corruption out of the system (particularly in Illinois where all contracts with the State require a 10% kickback or bribe, leading to hiring unqualified patronage workers as officials and officers of the prison system);
legalize marijuana and control it like tobacco or alcohol to free up law enforcement, prosecutors, and the courts to deal with more substantial crimes;and
most importantly add rehabilitation into the prison system so that the prisoners who are released become productive citizens; as well as
abolish the costly and useless death penalty,
the system will remain hopeless broken and costly, helping to drive our economy into the ground.

For more information about corruption in the Illinois and Cook County prison/court systems see my blog:

http://illinoiscorruption.blogspot.com/

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]]> By: Dr. Garth-James http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/05/23/addressing-racial-disparities-drug-arrests-and-incarceration/comment-page-1/#comment-4757 Dr. Garth-James Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:59:21 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=279#comment-4757 Corrections 3.0: Innovations in Prisoner Work and Recidivism Satisfied with mediocrity, policy makers and professionals in corrections continue to “just warehouse” prisoners at costs too high to pay. In the view of one author, the incarceration of “blacks” and “brown” lawbreakers at higher rates compare to “whites” remains a problem and is costly (see D. Roberts, The Social and Moral Cost of Mass Incarceration of African American Communities, Standford Law Review, 2004). Marc Mauer’s research at The Sentencing Project, a think tank in Washington, DC, presents a compelling case for disporportionate confinement of African Americans; and, we as a human race must accept some responsibility. When is the criminals debt paid to society? Is imprisonment (or death) the only acceptable way to repay the debt? Is retribution in the long-term acceptable and sensible as the only route to justice? Gendreau (2000), and the “what works” experts argue that a “panaceaphilia” of “quick fix” solutions is a longstanding problem in corrections. After spending billions, even trillions, on incarceration (management and construction) and “warehousing,” a new vision is required. Modern corrections must become immune to the “fartcatcher syndrone” and become optimistic about the benefits of evidence-based research and knowledge of what works to reduce recidivism and improve ex-offender reentry into society (see Gendreau, 1996; 2000). What Works? When will policy makers consider as a priority the prisoner’s return to society and readiness for a successful reentry? The production of goods and services has moved beyond the US borders. Workers must update their employability skills to remain competive in the labor market. The traditional model of work has changed since the 1940s so that the US business can be competitive in the global flat (or 3.0) world. The Urban Institute reports that a million incarcerated males costs about X to GDP; and, Petersilia (2004), What Works in Prisoner Reentry?acknowledges that releasing thousands of prisoners per year is not new, but supervision services are “strecthed beyond limits,” having an adverse impact on ex-offender postrelease success. Garth-Lewis (1993), research found work, especially marketable job skills training, invaluable and with vocational rehabilitation and education, provide a framework to improve inmate “work effort,” self-esteem and can reduce recidivism and improve reentry (Garner, 1985; Cogburn, 1988; Hall, 1990). This paper provides a discussion of innovations in prisoner work; highlights characteristics of Joint Ventures; proposes a Joint Venture Accountability Model as a framework to improve ex-offender reentry and reduce recidivism. Corrections 3.0: Innovations in Prisoner Work and Recidivism
Satisfied with mediocrity, policy makers and professionals in corrections continue to “just warehouse” prisoners at costs too high to pay. In the view of one author, the incarceration of “blacks” and “brown” lawbreakers at higher rates compare to “whites” remains a problem and is costly (see D. Roberts, The Social and Moral Cost of Mass Incarceration of African American Communities, Standford Law Review, 2004). Marc Mauer’s research at The Sentencing Project, a think tank in Washington, DC, presents a compelling case for disporportionate confinement of African Americans; and, we as a human race must accept some responsibility. When is the criminals debt paid to society? Is imprisonment (or death) the only acceptable way to repay the debt? Is retribution in the long-term acceptable and sensible as the only route to justice? Gendreau (2000), and the “what works” experts argue that a “panaceaphilia” of “quick fix” solutions is a longstanding problem in corrections. After spending billions, even trillions, on incarceration (management and construction) and “warehousing,” a new vision is required. Modern corrections must become immune to the “fartcatcher syndrone” and become optimistic about the benefits of evidence-based research and knowledge of what works to reduce recidivism and improve ex-offender reentry into society (see Gendreau, 1996; 2000).

What Works?

When will policy makers consider as a priority the prisoner’s return to society and readiness for a successful reentry? The production of goods and services has moved beyond the US borders. Workers must update their employability skills to remain competive in the labor market. The traditional model of work has changed since the 1940s so that the US business can be competitive in the global flat (or 3.0) world. The Urban Institute reports that a million incarcerated males costs about X to GDP; and, Petersilia (2004), What Works in Prisoner Reentry?acknowledges that releasing thousands of prisoners per year is not new, but supervision services are “strecthed beyond limits,” having an adverse impact on ex-offender postrelease success. Garth-Lewis (1993), research found work, especially marketable job skills training, invaluable and with vocational rehabilitation and education, provide a framework to improve inmate “work effort,” self-esteem and can reduce recidivism and improve reentry (Garner, 1985; Cogburn, 1988; Hall, 1990). This paper provides a discussion of innovations in prisoner work; highlights characteristics of Joint Ventures; proposes a Joint Venture Accountability Model as a framework to improve ex-offender reentry and reduce recidivism.

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]]> By: Seattle in Texas http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/05/23/addressing-racial-disparities-drug-arrests-and-incarceration/comment-page-1/#comment-3451 Seattle in Texas Sat, 31 May 2008 17:09:11 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=279#comment-3451 Dr. Branch, you are very welcome. I had said if I could come up with any thoughts that were inspirational, I would be back. I don’t know if you have read any of the other discussions, but there was what I would call an inductive type thinker who posted some excellent thoughts a while back—her name was Isabel. (In response, a person named Adia also posted some excellent thoughts too, though saw things just a bit differently--yet counter perspectives that are equally important--it just depends on which lens one wishes to use when viewing the world, etc.) But Isabel had suggested that it takes just one person to potentially bring about revolutionary change and used Rosa Parks as an example. Discussion could go further into what exactly it was that allowed Ms. Parks to be “the one” and a powerful theory not used much in academia would suggest all of the conditions were in place for it to happen. In other words, suppose somebody back in California or Texas, wherever, would have engaged in an identical act, chances are the same outcome could not have occurred. So why Ms. Parks? Imagine the numerous answers you could get from such a question from a variety of disciplines, perspectives, etc. But back to Isabel’s point, it really can take just one person to make a world of difference and we can never know for sure who or when that could be. But one thing we do know, is if nobody acts or challenges it will never come about and things are sure to only worsen. The suggestion I would give to you is to be sure they keep the language straight and the situation focused on what happened exactly as it occurred. Don’t let them change the incident from, for example, “The Branch’s were arrested” to “We temporarily ‘detained’ the Branch’s”—all of this will be socially constructed and even re-created to work against you and your husband by the other side. The legal outcomes of an “arrest” and “detainment” are entirely different. So, while the original intentions and actions of the officers may have been an actual “arrest”, if they change it to “being detained”, the everything changes. If I were you, I would keep a diary of how this has impacted you, etc. I would make sure they keep the language straight and if they use language you don’t understand, demand a clarification. I am sure all of these things and more your attorneys(s) will handle for you. We always hear of the “legal” arrests, etc. which is what scholars use to conduct their work, yet I am unaware of any numbers that reflect the “illegal” arrests, searches, and seizures—the only time I have heard about these are when they make it to the court of appeals or Supreme Court (and these numbers in comparison to what a large number of people actually experience are grossly disparate). This in my opinion prevents people at the individual level to realize it is not a personal problem, but rather a social issue, which keeps society from revolting against it. Plus on top of it, the laws that have changed in the last few years have reflected the trend of preventing people from exercising their constitutional rights and rightfully seeking remedy for harms and damages committed by state or federal officials—they are almost nearly immune to any wrongful actions and decisions they make. This is very scary, yet the only way to change it is to challenge it and in my opinion, raise awareness just as you have done here. And I am very glad Dr. Renzetti put up such a wonderful and important post! Take care Dr. Branch, you are very welcome. I had said if I could come up with any thoughts that were inspirational, I would be back. I don’t know if you have read any of the other discussions, but there was what I would call an inductive type thinker who posted some excellent thoughts a while back—her name was Isabel. (In response, a person named Adia also posted some excellent thoughts too, though saw things just a bit differently–yet counter perspectives that are equally important–it just depends on which lens one wishes to use when viewing the world, etc.) But Isabel had suggested that it takes just one person to potentially bring about revolutionary change and used Rosa Parks as an example. Discussion could go further into what exactly it was that allowed Ms. Parks to be “the one” and a powerful theory not used much in academia would suggest all of the conditions were in place for it to happen. In other words, suppose somebody back in California or Texas, wherever, would have engaged in an identical act, chances are the same outcome could not have occurred. So why Ms. Parks? Imagine the numerous answers you could get from such a question from a variety of disciplines, perspectives, etc. But back to Isabel’s point, it really can take just one person to make a world of difference and we can never know for sure who or when that could be. But one thing we do know, is if nobody acts or challenges it will never come about and things are sure to only worsen.

The suggestion I would give to you is to be sure they keep the language straight and the situation focused on what happened exactly as it occurred. Don’t let them change the incident from, for example, “The Branch’s were arrested” to “We temporarily ‘detained’ the Branch’s”—all of this will be socially constructed and even re-created to work against you and your husband by the other side. The legal outcomes of an “arrest” and “detainment” are entirely different. So, while the original intentions and actions of the officers may have been an actual “arrest”, if they change it to “being detained”, the everything changes. If I were you, I would keep a diary of how this has impacted you, etc. I would make sure they keep the language straight and if they use language you don’t understand, demand a clarification. I am sure all of these things and more your attorneys(s) will handle for you.

We always hear of the “legal” arrests, etc. which is what scholars use to conduct their work, yet I am unaware of any numbers that reflect the “illegal” arrests, searches, and seizures—the only time I have heard about these are when they make it to the court of appeals or Supreme Court (and these numbers in comparison to what a large number of people actually experience are grossly disparate). This in my opinion prevents people at the individual level to realize it is not a personal problem, but rather a social issue, which keeps society from revolting against it. Plus on top of it, the laws that have changed in the last few years have reflected the trend of preventing people from exercising their constitutional rights and rightfully seeking remedy for harms and damages committed by state or federal officials—they are almost nearly immune to any wrongful actions and decisions they make. This is very scary, yet the only way to change it is to challenge it and in my opinion, raise awareness just as you have done here. And I am very glad Dr. Renzetti put up such a wonderful and important post! Take care

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]]> By: Dr. Stacy Branch http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/05/23/addressing-racial-disparities-drug-arrests-and-incarceration/comment-page-1/#comment-3439 Dr. Stacy Branch Fri, 30 May 2008 19:51:04 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=279#comment-3439 Dear Seattle in Texas and Dr. Renzetti: Thank you very much for your understanding and support. This is of great value to us and we appreciate it. I will keep you posted. Any and all suggestions concerning the endeavor for accountability will be helpful. The absence of this helped to make this problem mushroom in our society. Thank you very much again and take care. Dear Seattle in Texas and Dr. Renzetti:

Thank you very much for your understanding and support. This is of great value to us and we appreciate it. I will keep you posted. Any and all suggestions concerning the endeavor for accountability will be helpful. The absence of this helped to make this problem mushroom in our society. Thank you very much again and take care.

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]]> By: Seattle in Texas http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/05/23/addressing-racial-disparities-drug-arrests-and-incarceration/comment-page-1/#comment-3421 Seattle in Texas Thu, 29 May 2008 12:08:53 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=279#comment-3421 Here is a little something from the ACLU for anybody interested: http://www.aclu.org/safefree/general/17326res20030403.html Here is a little something from the ACLU for anybody interested:

http://www.aclu.org/safefree/general/17326res20030403.html

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]]> By: Seattle in Texas http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/05/23/addressing-racial-disparities-drug-arrests-and-incarceration/comment-page-1/#comment-3371 Seattle in Texas Mon, 26 May 2008 21:52:15 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=279#comment-3371 Thank you Dr. Renzetti and I agree that major, or rather radical change must take place at much deeper levels and well beyond only selected partitioned aspects of systems and institutions in this society—changes must occur in unison. In terms of Dr. Branch’s situation, I wanted suggest that it is so unfortunate, but that is not even close since it is so common —I was unable to find anything encouraging to say, yet could only offer support. I think you captured what needed to be said very nicely. She has all of our support here, thank you. Thank you Dr. Renzetti and I agree that major, or rather radical change must take place at much deeper levels and well beyond only selected partitioned aspects of systems and institutions in this society—changes must occur in unison. In terms of Dr. Branch’s situation, I wanted suggest that it is so unfortunate, but that is not even close since it is so common —I was unable to find anything encouraging to say, yet could only offer support. I think you captured what needed to be said very nicely. She has all of our support here, thank you.

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]]> By: Claire Renzetti http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/05/23/addressing-racial-disparities-drug-arrests-and-incarceration/comment-page-1/#comment-3356 Claire Renzetti Mon, 26 May 2008 14:04:23 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=279#comment-3356 Dr. Branch, your experience is horrifying, not only because of what you and your husband have personally endured, but also because it is unfortunately quite common. I am certain that there are many other readers of this blog who have similar stories to tell. And they need to be told, and retold, in as many venues to as wide an audience as possible. I applaud you for not letting this incident be hidden, despite the considerable cost to you and your husband. You are correct that despite the Patriot Act, we still have constitutional rights, but your case illustrates well the extensive discretionary power that police have to stop and search citizens and vehicles -- and US Supreme Court decisions have supported and reinforced this power. I want to echo Seattle in Texas by wishing you and your husband all the best with your case. Please do let us know what happens and how we may support you. Dr. Branch, your experience is horrifying, not only because of what you and your husband have personally endured, but also because it is unfortunately quite common. I am certain that there are many other readers of this blog who have similar stories to tell. And they need to be told, and retold, in as many venues to as wide an audience as possible. I applaud you for not letting this incident be hidden, despite the considerable cost to you and your husband. You are correct that despite the Patriot Act, we still have constitutional rights, but your case illustrates well the extensive discretionary power that police have to stop and search citizens and vehicles — and US Supreme Court decisions have supported and reinforced this power. I want to echo Seattle in Texas by wishing you and your husband all the best with your case. Please do let us know what happens and how we may support you.

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]]> By: Claire Renzetti http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2008/05/23/addressing-racial-disparities-drug-arrests-and-incarceration/comment-page-1/#comment-3355 Claire Renzetti Mon, 26 May 2008 13:52:19 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=279#comment-3355 Seattle in Texas, you raise a very important question: What is justice? How can it be said that arresting individuals for simple possession and jailing or imprisoning them is just, especially in light of the horrible conditions in our nation's jails and prisons? What good could jail or prison possibly do? Fortunately, some states are recognizing the value of diversion programs that include drug and alcohol treatment, although they are motivated by fiscal concerns more than rehabilitative ones. And as my post emphasizes, drug and alcohol treatment are hardly sufficient. Improvements in education, job training programs, community development projects, affordable housing and child care -- to name a few -- are critical. You also raise the important point of what we might call secondary victimization: that is, the impact of arrest and incarceration on offenders' families. Much of the work I do focuses on gender differences in offending and victimization. While the families of male offenders certainly suffer, the families of female offenders, particularly their children, need special consideration, I think. Female offenders are significantly more likely than male offenders to report that their children lived with them prior to incarceration and that they were the sole caregivers of their children. The severe negative impact of incarceration on both incarcerated mothers and their children deserves attention. Surely there is a better response to drug offending than locking up moms for extended periods of time, destroying their families? This "get-tough" approach to nonviolent offending unmasks the underlying racism and sexism of conservative family preservation rhetoric. Seattle in Texas, you raise a very important question: What is justice? How can it be said that arresting individuals for simple possession and jailing or imprisoning them is just, especially in light of the horrible conditions in our nation’s jails and prisons? What good could jail or prison possibly do? Fortunately, some states are recognizing the value of diversion programs that include drug and alcohol treatment, although they are motivated by fiscal concerns more than rehabilitative ones. And as my post emphasizes, drug and alcohol treatment are hardly sufficient. Improvements in education, job training programs, community development projects, affordable housing and child care — to name a few — are critical. You also raise the important point of what we might call secondary victimization: that is, the impact of arrest and incarceration on offenders’ families. Much of the work I do focuses on gender differences in offending and victimization. While the families of male offenders certainly suffer, the families of female offenders, particularly their children, need special consideration, I think. Female offenders are significantly more likely than male offenders to report that their children lived with them prior to incarceration and that they were the sole caregivers of their children. The severe negative impact of incarceration on both incarcerated mothers and their children deserves attention. Surely there is a better response to drug offending than locking up moms for extended periods of time, destroying their families? This “get-tough” approach to nonviolent offending unmasks the underlying racism and sexism of conservative family preservation rhetoric.

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