Vaughn 1

Mass Incarceration and the Effect on Black Men

The United States criminal justice system has been criticized for a long time because of

the racial inequality. The African Americans tend to be imprisoned more than the Whites, a crisis

that is almost becoming an accepted norm. Research has also indicated that at least one in every

five black men will end up in prison, a big burden to the black community (Childs 34). The

reason why this group of people engages in criminal activities is mainly because of the high

unemployment rate thus making jail to be a fun place to be (Mauer & Ryan 45). Sentencing men

results to leaving behind families without a father figure and women are left to take over all the

financial responsibilities. The economic situation of the household become even worse because

women are underpaid for discriminatory positions that make the living wage incapable of

supporting the children (Western & Christopher 226). The research paper will deeply scrutinize

black male incarceration and come up with possible solutions to alleviate the situation. More

focus will be placed on the problem of unemployment which continues to affect many and a

source of other gross misconducts that make the African Americans end up in prison.

An Outline of the Paper

Introduction: This section will focus on the background information on the mass

incarceration and how it affects the black men and suggest critical areas that need to be

addressed. The introduction will also have the thesis statement which forms the basis of the

arguments that will be presented thereafter.

The research problem: In this section, the effects of mass incarceration on the black

men will be addressed using specific research problems. I will also delve into the issue and

establish whether the black community is more disadvantaged.

 Vaughn 2

History: The section will look at the historical facts and figures that show how mass

incarceration has been affecting the Black men. A review of historical information will be

essential for the formulation of sound policies to deal with problem of incarceration involving

the black men.

Solution: The section will provide answers to the research problem and propose the best

methods and policies to be adopted in order to reduce the cases of more black men ending up in

prisons.

Conclusion: This will be the last section of the paper. The conclusion will begin by

analyzing whether the thesis statement has been supported with solid facts that are objective and

well thought out.

A Brief History

A review of the history of incarceration goes back to the slave trade era. During this time, the

African Americans were supposed to be subjected to an extremely repressive system of control

employed by the criminal justice system (Western & Becky 560). The era was also marked by

the Jim Crow ideas, and at the same time, the concept of racial inferiority was crystallizing

(Browning et al., 90). The black community would thereafter be segregated, stripped off their

dignity and their civil right to vote infringed. The culture of victimizing the African Americans is

yet to end because they are still been targeted even for low-violent offenses especially men

between 18 and 35 years (Raphael 320). To find long-term solutions to the problem of

incarceration targeting the black men, it is essential for policymakers to have a profound

understanding of the historical injustices and the promotion of the discriminative policies

targeting the African Americans.

Solutions to Racial Mass Incarceration

 Vaughn 3

Too long sentences have caused a large number of African Americans ending up in prison even

for minor offenses (Rios 20). A review of the data and information from the Bureau of Justice

Statistics reveals that there is a large number of black people since 1980 that have been serving

prison sentences hence a problem that can be addressed through application of alternative

corrective measures and the promotion of pro-social skills (Mechoulan 33). A need, therefore,

arises to rewrite sentencing laws at both the federal and the state level. Being tough on crimes is

also associated with the generation of capital that is used to run political affairs. As a result, it is

paramount to review these approaches and adopt lesser prison terms that serve the same

corrective purposes instead of promoting discrimination and prejudice that make many black

men serve long prison terms.

Legislations promoting racial fairness should be enacted in order to be aligned to the racial

equity goals (Roberts 1271). States should have efficient structures that can be used to address

racial disparities in as far as imprisonment is concerned. Such a comprehensive assessment will

be essential for the promotion of ethnic and racial fairness in the justice system. The policy will

also be important for the reorientation of the war on drugs that has been largely targeting the

black community (Coates 81). The limited option in the community-based responses should also

be focused on these legislations to ensure that excessive prison terms are significantly reduced.

Mass incarceration targeting the black men can also be addressed by enacting stricter

legislation on job discriminations (Finzen 299). Most of the black men victimized are caught in

violent crimes are motivated by the need to acquire more property and live a better life. To

address these economic difference, it is critical to ensure that there is equal employment that lays

emphasis on meritocracy. All organizations that fail to observe these laws should face negative

sanctions because of the failure to address the causes of crime. Once all people have equal access
 Vaughn 4

to opportunities, the rates of crimes will reduce significantly, and mass incarceration can be made

a past problem.

Working Thesis Statement

The research will be guided by the thesis statement, ‘using tougher legislation to address racial

injustices in order to end incarceration of which has greatly affected the black men’. A review of

literature has shown that the criminal justice system is not doing enough to prevent more black

men ending up in prison. Instead, arresting more African Americans promote racial

discrimination and prejudice, worsening the current situation in which black men are considered

to be violent and less motivated to follow laws because of their desire to acquire more wealth

regardless of the means. Tougher laws can, however, be enacted on the sentencing policies,

discriminations in the employment process and coming up with racial equity goals that

emphasize pro-social values. Observing these unique approaches to crime will guarantee the

reduction of cases of blacks ending up in prisons in large numbers which causes the problem of

overstretched facilities and further promote racial hatred.

Design

The research will utilize the findings from researchers as well as news articles from magazines,

journals that have important information regarding the controversial topic. The current situation

is still under control and it is possible to come up with long-term solutions to the problem once

the recommendations from this research are followed.

Works Cited
 Vaughn 5

Browning, Sandra Lee, R. Robin Miller, and Lisa M. Spruance. "Criminal incarceration dividing

the ties that bind: Black men and their families." Journal of African American Men 6.1

(2001): 87-102.

Childs, Dennis. Slaves of the state: Black incarceration from the chain gang to the penitentiary.

University of Minnesota Press, 2015.

Coates, Ta-Nehisi. "The black family in the age of mass incarceration." The Atlantic 316.3

(2015): 81-82.

Finzen, Margaret E. "Systems of oppression: The collateral consequences of incarceration and

their effects on black communities." Geo. J. on Poverty L. & Pol'y 12 (2005): 299.

Mauer, Marc, and Ryan S. King. Uneven justice: State rates of incarceration by race and

ethnicity. Washington, DC: Sentencing Project, 2007.

Mechoulan, Stéphane. "The external effects of black male incarceration on black

females." Journal of Labor Economics29.1 (2011): 1-35.

Raphael, Steven. "The socioeconomic status of black males: The increasing importance of

incarceration." Public policy and the income distribution (2006): 319-358.

Rios, Victor M. "The hypercriminalization of Black and Latino male youth in the era of mass

incarceration." Racializing justice, disenfranchising lives. Palgrave Macmillan, New

York, 2007. 17-33.

Roberts, Dorothy E. "The social and moral cost of mass incarceration in African American

communities." Stan. L. Rev.56 (2003): 1271.

Western, Bruce, and Becky Pettit. "Black-white wage inequality, employment rates, and

incarceration." American Journal of Sociology 111.2 (2005): 553-578.

 Vaughn 6

Western, Bruce, and Christopher Wildeman. "The black family and mass incarceration." The

ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 621.1 (2009): 221

242.