Disproportionate Incarceration of Communities of Color

Abstract

"In 2010, the ACLU found that black Americans were 3.73 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white Americans. What makes this statistic more striking is that marijuana usage is about the same between black and white Americans (ACLU). Black Americans are incarcerated at a rate of more than five times that of white Americans (NAACP). This project explores the connection between racial profiling and the disproportionate incarceration of black Americans and proposes how significant changes to law enforcement in the United States can foster a more just and equal penal system. I propose attainable changes that can be implemented with our law enforcement to lessen the disparities experienced by communities of color who are disproportionately affected by mass incarceration."