Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
4-17-2019
Abstract
This research will address the detrimental system of America’s Criminal Justice System by viewing the behavior of marginalized youth in metropolitan areas. 75% of the young urban minorities imprisoned grew up in difficult circumstances where they lack equal opportunities, such as decent schooling/education, jobs, housing structures, and other socially-improving activities. Not only does the environment of the inner-city affect their life decisions, but there’s also a certain racial bias that is evident in the data as well. Some questions posed around this are “why is the U.S. prisons’ population composed of 1 in 3 black men, compared to 1 in 17 white men?” or “how is it that 79% of black and Latino individuals are more likely to be convicted of a drug charge more frequently than white people (10%) of the same crime?” Politically speaking, the ‘War on Drugs’ effects of enforcing over-policing and loss of social safety nets in disadvantaged communities have caused generational damages we see today. Currently, there are social reform initiatives, such as the Drug Policy Alliance and the Youth Government organizations, that are aiding in the reducing the number of young blacks and Latinos in the “school to prison pipeline” trap.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Vasciannie, Analiese, "Breaking the Chain: America's Incarceration Prevention of Young Urban Minorities" (2019). Papers, Posters, and Recordings. 2.
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/great-day-works/2
Comments
The purpose of my research is to inform people about the "school-to-prison pipeline" issue and how "bad" neighborhoods can improve at the local level.