Blacks were 15 times more likely than whites to be in state prisons for drug crimes in 2000, but that dropped to five times as likely by 2016, the most recent year available. The change mostly stemmed from a 30% decline in the black male imprisonment rate, largely driven by falling drug crimes. — Six black women were imprisoned for every white inmate in 2000, which fell to two-to-one by 2016. Fewer black women were being incarcerated for drug crimes, while more white women were imprisoned for violent, property and drug crimes. While falling drug crimes had a big impact on racial disparity the shift raises questions the study’s authors couldn’t answer.

Source: thestar December 03, 2019 05:24 UTC