The Motivation Behind Black Imprisonment

[NNN0LHI]

http://atlantapost.com/2010/12/07/the-motivation-behind-black-imprisonment/

December 07, 2010 09:40 AM

According to the Sentencing Project, more than 60 percent of the people in prison are now racial and ethnic minorities. Of black males at least 20 years of age, 1 in every 8 is in prison or jail on any given day. Given the disproportionate number of black males incarcerated, it begs the question of why are so many black men the targets of the prison industrial complex. A corollary question is in order here: is there a motive behind keeping black men in prison?

One explanation to illustrate a motive as to why black men are disproportionately incarcerated is social control theory. Social Control theorists contend that when social constraints on antisocial behavior are weakened or absent, delinquent behavior emerges. An example of social constraints and how the state exerts power is the New York City Police Department practice of racial profiling documented by Bob Herbert of the New York Times.

He found that minorities were involved in 84 percent of the stops made in regards to police looking for weapons, drugs, and other illegal antisocial acts blacks are perceived to engage in. Moreover, racial profiling by NYC Police Department underscores the strength of the state and is an example of how state power serves as a deterrent to crime–NYC cites that crime has steadily gone down as a result of the state exerting its power. In addition, the reduction of crime is used to justify the criminalization of black males and the over incarceration of black males.

Another reason black males are cannibalized by the prison industrial complex is the need of the capitalist system to exploit labor—black labor has been the labor of choice for exploitation since the founding of the United States. Blackmon, in his book Slavery By Another Name, does a yeomen’s job explaining this forced labor black men were subjected to once they were freed. Today’s over-incarceration of black males is a continuation of capitalistic practices looking to exploit black labor.

[grasswire]

1. there's another sinister aspect -- black men losing the vote

Consider that. Every black man imprisoned, and every black man convicted of a felony is unable to vote. In some cases permanently, in some cases for a period of time.

[duhneece]

5. Some can vote

Please help share the news that many convicted felons can vote...eventually. Each state has different laws. Some can vote after they've completed the terms of their sentence. Our non profit, Peace and Justice of La Luz has shared this info with half-way houses, residential treatment centers and wherever we can.

The legal ability of people with felony convictions to vote varies from state to state. Some states allow felons to vote from prison while other states permanently ban felons from voting even after being released from prison, parole, and probation, and having paid all their fines.

The chart below provides links to each state's laws on felon voting and places each US state within one of five categories ranging from harshest (column A) to least restrictive (column E). For the 12 most restrictive states in column A more details have been provided, including applications for re-enfranchisement and clemency.



http://felonvoting.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=286

[grasswire]

7. thank you for expanding what I mentioned

I said "In some cases permanently, in some cases for a period of time."

Your info will be useful to many, hopefully.

[TheDebbieDee]

2. The US is a prison nation.............

The prison industrial complex exists because the federal government started contracting out the detaining and maintenace of prisoners to private businesses.

We're sending people to prison ($75,000/year /prisoner) for crimes for which probation (probation officer's annual salary for keeping tabs those on dozens) would suffice.

It's in the best interests of these businesses to ensure that harsh/stiff penalties are given out for even the most petty of crimes to ensure that their prison building and staffing services will always be needed.........

[tkmorris]

3. Tagging for later

[EFerrari]

4. Unnecessary police contact.

And Blackmon's book is really good. It shows the through line from literal slavery to the present situation.

[duhneece]

6. The Drug War is just another tactic

Or is it a stategy (I get confused) that the War Against Drugs became a war against poor people, expecially liberals and minorities.