Effects of High Black Arrest Rate on Black Communities | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Effects of High Black Arrest Rate on Black Communities

23
Effects of High Black Arrest Rate on Black Communities

The last 40 plus years has seen a growth in the prison industry that has never been seen anywhere else. In 1972 there were two hundred thousand people incarcerated. Fast forward to present day there are almost two and a half million people behind bars. That’s a one and a half million increase from 1972. The majority of the people imprisoned are African American (forty percent.) What is even more shocking is that this increase in jail population was not caused by an increase in crime, but by an increased rate of sentencing and in increase in lengths of stay.

What effects does the mass incarceration of African Americans have on the communities in which they live? What about the families of the imprisoned? Many children are effected negatively by having parents in jail. Twenty percent of black children have a father in jail. Studies show that growing up with a parent in jail causes A higher risk of the child having a record of juvenile delinquency. Studies have also shown that having an incarcerated parent makes a child two and a half times more likely to develop a serious mental disorder.

Children are not the only members of the family that suffer from having a family member in jail, Spouses also must deal with the negative effects. The high rate of prison incarnation has caused a spike in the number of female headed households. 66 percent of the ever-married prison population recurrently divorced, compared to a rate of 17 percent for adults who are not in prison. Having a parent in prison has adverse effects on family, children as well as adults suffer.

Fathers often have a hard time being involved in their children’s lives while in prison. Due to limited contact, they miss key events in the child’s life, games, graduations, and everyday interaction.

Families suffer financially as well. The loss of the additional income is detrimental to the family. When combined with the added prion fees, visits, mail, commissary, etc. This can cause families to move and uproot the family and cause another transition in addition the transition of having a parent behind bars. Moving the schools of the children and the actual process of moving adds a lot of stress.

The incarceration of the father figure also has negative effects on the extended family. The mother would have to rely heavily on extended family for moral support, babysitting, money and housing. As far as the community its self is concerned, going to prison further deteriorates these already weak employment rates. Upon returning from being imprinoed both men and women find it hard to find work. Many places do not hire people with criminal records. This leaves a permeant effect on ones earning potential. Thus, forcing ex-prisoners into bad jobs with little pay and little chances of moving up the latter.

People with felonies are also unbale to vote. These people who are mainly do not have a voice or say in who will become our next commander and chief. black This can change the way that states tend to vote. I.E Georgia is a red state however if all the convicted felons could vote Georgia would be a red state.

As the incarceration rate grows so does the unemployment rate for blacks. Which in turn causes hardships for the families of the incarcerated. Children may be uprooted from schools and family systems disrupted.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

2468
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

1480
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

200725
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

21231
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments