Prison Sentences for Black Men Are 20% Longer Than Those for White Men for Same Crimes
By Noel Brinkerhoff | AllGov | February 20, 2013
Federal judges have handed down longer prison sentences for black men than for white men—for the same or similar crimes committed— since 2005, when a court ruling gave judges more discretion in deciding jail times for convicted criminals.
The U.S. Sentencing Commission revealed in a new report that the sentences of black men were on average 19.5% longer than the sentences of white men from December 2007 to September 2011.
The commission did not mention racism as a factor in sentencing decisions, but did write that judges “make sentencing decisions based on many legitimate considerations that are not or cannot be measured.”
To address the disparity, commissioners recommended that federal judges give sentencing guidelines more weight. They also said appeals courts should more carefully examine sentences that fall beyond the guidelines.
Eight years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a 1984 law requiring federal judges to impose sentences within the range of the federal sentencing guidelines, which are set by the commission.
Critics of the new report say that the commission focused on the tail end of the criminal justice process, to the exclusion of earlier stages when bias can occur, such as at the time of arrest or plea being entered. Considering such data could have altered the study’s results, they claim.
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Duh!… One of the first things you learn when you start studying statistics is that you can drown in a river that’s statistically only 5″ deep…
Statistics without context (such as those that are quoted in this article) are absolutely meaningless…
For example, were any of these offenders repeat offenders?!… And, if they were, how was this “normalized” and/or “factored” for in these statistics?!…
As another example, were any of these convictions based on plea bargains?!… And, if they were, how was this “normalized” and/or “factored” for in these statistics?!…
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This article is 20% stupider than any of the others posted here.
Prior records are always taken into account at sentencing.
Race is not.
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“Prior records are always taken into account at sentencing. Race is not.”
Race is just taken into account every where else, for example when deciding which victim to stop and frisk. The sentencing then amplifies the effect.
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If that is true – it’s because they are statistically more likely to be up to no good.
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Carry on, please.
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WOW. People just do NOT get it, do they Jason? The POINT is, that the very nature of laws are constructed in such a way that results in blacks either being sentenced for longer periods for the same crimes as whites, or if they’re committing more crime, or if it’s repeat offenses, doesn’t say. There is immense racial disparity in our justice system, and it MUST be addressed.
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It seems as though this is a subject that is beyond inquiry. It’s “stoopider” to point it out.
The unspeakable “reality” that is being exhibited above is one in which Blacks are simply so inferior as to require being kept in cages. Of course one would expect such an attitude coming from a squatter living on Palestinian land where scubaman is posting from.
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If there is disparity it is because Blacks are more likely to and in fact DO commit more crimes in relation to their numbers.
It’s really not that complicated.
The disparity is not due to ‘ray-sism’ – the disparity is a reflection of the reality on the ground.
Blacks are inherently more likely to commit crimes, especially violent crimes.
There is no arguing against this. Anyone who does argue against this simply hasn’t looked into the issue.
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I guess that the fact that Blacks in Cuba commit fewer crimes than Blacks in the US is due to the fact that the Spanish did a better job of improving the race.
Any other racial theories you care to share with us?
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Well allow me to look at your data first…
Can I have a link to the source for your facts?
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Yeah, that’s what I thought.
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You don’t actually think that the level of criminal prosecution of Black Cubans is anywhere close do you. Jeez.
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How do I know? How do you know?
You could literally just be making stuff up for all I know.
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Maggie, exactly how are laws “constructed in such a way that results in blacks either being sentenced for longer periods for the same crimes as whites”?!…
There’s a claim that there “is immense racial disparity in our justice system” but, to date, I have not seen anything that proves that claim… The statistics quoted are unreliable because they data could be explained in many ways…
Also, the people presenting these statistics have an agenda which further reinforces my distrust of the statistics they provide…
IOW, before we address anything we have to make sure that there’s something to be addressed!… And no, hype (emotional or otherwise) doesn’t constitute proof of anything…
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