Racial Disparity In Prison

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There were 1,525,924 persons incarcerated in state and federal prisons at the end of 2005. The Black race takes up 40 percent of this number while whites are only 35 percent and Hispanic is only at 20 percent. (Harrison & Beck. 2006) This means blacks comprise about 12 percent of the US population which is about two fifths of the prison population. Males are even more dramatic for disparities, especially males in their twenties and thirties. In 2005, 8.1 percent of all black males ages 25 to 29 were doing time in a prison. White males were only 1.1 percent and Hispanic males were only 2.6 percent. The pattern for females are similar, however the numbers are much smaller.
The statistics are continuously changing. Most statistics do not include the millions of people arrested and released every year without being formally charged. These also do not include juveniles, military prisoners and mental patients. Prisons all over the world are full of inmates aka cons. Many of these cons have done violent crimes. Prison disparity is in every prison. Sometimes the outcome of a trial is due to the race the defendant is. There are prejudice persons and judges still out there. However, racial disparity is common in prisons. The racial disparities in prisons have been there for years. The guards will let a certain racial gang in prison help run the cell blocks and keep other cons from doing wrong. This allows the guards to have help in matters that go on in prisons. If your ever in a prison then you will know that there is a certain “gang” that will take leadership with other inmates and other “gangs”.
Some guards will allow their “trusted cons” (inmate helpers) get special privileges for their help in keeping their cell block calm. Some guards will let them get longer “yard” time, seconds on supper or even an extra phone call. However, some guards will

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