...Racism Still Exist in the 21st Century Many are oblivious that racism still exists today. We are often taught that racism is a thing of the past. In school we study the notorious figures of Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. The concepts of segregation and inequality are often taught in a historical context. However, if you take a look around racism is very present in today’s society and can be found by looking at the achievement gap, and mass incarceration system. Another representation that racism exists today is the concept of white privilege, which is deeply immersed into society. The achievement gap is a major aspect when we think of racism in the twenty-first century. According to the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), there are large gaps in test scores between African American students and White students (Vanneman, A., Hamilton, L., Baldwin Anderson, J., and Rahman, T. 2009). At the age of nine and thirteen students are given a test in both reading and mathematics to determine the level at which they are performing (Vannerman, et al., 2009). The results are then translated to a scale by the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP). From this scale experts have gathered valuable information that confirms the achievement gap is still present today. Many say that the achievement gap is due to various reasons. One main reason that seems to be associated with achievement gap is the stability of the parents (Vannerman, et...
Words: 1138 - Pages: 5
...It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back: The War on Drugs, Mass Incarceration, and a Call to Action for America's Black Youth By Carl L. Young An Alternative Plan Paper Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science In Sociology: Corrections Minnesota State University, Mankato Mankato, Minnesota Spring 2013 Final Draft 4/20/2013 1 This Alternative Plan Paper has been examined and approved by the following members of the Examining Committee. _____________________ Dr. Leah Rogne, Advisor _____________________ Dr. William Wagner _____________________ Dr. Penny Jo Rosenthal _____________________ Dr. Nadarajan Sethuraju ________________ Date 2 A bstract This alternative plan paper examines the circumstances that have evolved as a incarceration of the Black community. In the last thirty years, the federal government of the United States of America has engaged in camp which has involved a variety of policies to stop the production, distribution and sale of illegal narcotics. Hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent in a war that has targeted the most vulnerable in our society, impacting its youth for generations to come. This alternative plan paper addresses...
Words: 18864 - Pages: 76
...Millions To Hold Us Back: The War on Drugs, Mass Incarceration, and a Call to Action for America's Black Youth By Carl L. Young An Alternative Plan Paper Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science In Sociology: Corrections Minnesota State University, Mankato Mankato, Minnesota Spring 2013 Final Draft 4/20/2013 1 This Alternative Plan Paper has been examined and approved by the following members of the Examining Committee. _____________________ Dr. Leah Rogne, Advisor _____________________ Dr. William Wagner _____________________ Dr. Penny Jo Rosenthal _____________________ Dr. Nadarajan Sethuraju ________________ Date 2 Abstract This alternative plan paper examines the circumstances that have evolved as a result of the Reagan Administration’s War on Drugs and the increase of mass incarceration of the Black community. In the last thirty years, the federal government of the United States of America has engaged in campaign known as the “War on Drugs,” which has involved a variety of policies to stop the production, distribution and sale of illegal narcotics. Hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent in a war that has targeted the most vulnerable in our society, impacting its youth for generations to come. This alternative plan paper addresses the impact of the War on Drugs and the criminal justice policies that have impacted the life chances of Black youth nationwide and calls for a new social movement, introducing a 21st century...
Words: 19872 - Pages: 80
...Alternatives to Incarceration Abstract Our country continues to search alternatives to the overcrowded prisons bulging at the seams. Citizens are crying for a relief on taxation in funding these prisons. The criminal justice system has searched for years for ideas to limit incarceration. Some alternative programs have withstood the test of time, some continue to build a name for themselves, and others have just come onto the scene. This paper will focus on three alternative programs to placing adults in prisons. These programs include military services, intensive supervision programs (ISP’s), and Restorative Justice programs. Each provides some type of benefit to criminals, corrections department, and society. Alternatives to Incarceration Our country seems to have gone in various directions trying to find a successful justice system to work in punishing crimes. We went from a rehabilitation system, to no tolerance policies in the 1980’s. Overcrowded prisons forced officials to let prisoners out early in the 90’s. Taxpayers wanted something done with crime in their communities, but didn’t know which way to turn. A faulty criminal justice system has been blamed in such that it had, “Inadequate or ineffective rehabilitation programs, lack of drug treatment, insufficient funding for resettlement after prison, and other . . . policies. . . .”, (Sherman & Strang, 2007, p. 12). Crimes continue to be a major concern within American society, yet our only response...
Words: 1413 - Pages: 6
...The purpose of this book is to take a critical look at the development of late modernity and its impacts on different aspects of life. Late modernity provided new aspects to life which has drastically impacted social order. Members of society had the potential of more availability to resources. Administration convinced individuals that efficiency and privatization would lead to the improvement of social departments, which would benefit the population. Alongside privatization was surveillance, which was sold to the people through fear. The people believed they were gaining more protection and that life would be more efficient. Regardless of intent, the part of the population who suffered in this wake has not decreased and it has not lessened. A better society was promised, but what was given was anything but better. Segregation continued and while part of the population saw more efficiency, the other part of the population endured more disadvantage. Minority populations disadvantage levels rose and members of those communities were labeled as delinquents. Political powers enforced stronger forms of social control to account for the rise in dissatisfaction towards rising disadvantage levels. Social control and efficiency became the focal points of all institutions. Late modernity caused changes...
Words: 1922 - Pages: 8
...Race and Social Justice: Land of the Slaves Racism is common. It depicts how people think they are superior to others. Black people have experienced racism or discrimination from white people. Racism in America is like a form of xenophobia. White people harass the people who are not so powerful or who they just don't like. Discrimination is the leading cause of violence in America. It is a strange phenomenon that we are continually scrambling to make sense of. It is evident in our judicial system, schools, and it powers our politics. There are cases of discrimination in our schools, justice system, and prisons. The three articles discuss the causes, effects, and solutions to these problems. Mary Ellen Flannery, in " The School-to-Prison Pipeline:...
Words: 1189 - Pages: 5
...dream, but many still struggle and continue to work non stop in order to reach a dream that is almost impossible to achieve. The United States of America, “the land of the free and opportunities”, hasn’t really been the land of the free, with opportunities for all. During my 7 week summer course, I was able to have a better and deep understanding of how the United States is structured to benefit a certain group while denying others opportunities. How those in power acquired their power, work to maintain it through inequality, how these inequalities can a lot of times be correlated, and how can we work together to make a difference. In order to understand inequality we must first identify what are the factors that contribute in creating it. Social class, which can define one’s position in society, contributes to a form of conflict. Social class divisions have always played a prominent role in America. These class distinctions inflict unfair on all Americans. The idea of social class has been a central concept in determining the opportunities a person is capable of having. People from different socioeconomic backgrounds live different lifestyles as well as have different opportunities available to them. The film People Like Us: Social Class in America, discusses the class system, social stratification based on both birth and individual achievement, which the American people use to define others . It explores the many variables that contribute to the determination...
Words: 2202 - Pages: 9
...The mentorship program would be initiated in the District Attorney’s office by requesting mentors who are past offenders be afforded the opportunity to be granted either dismissal of charges, community service hours, financial assistance with satisfying restitution or a combination the three. Secondly, both mentors and mentee will each be placed under strict scrutiny to identify personal attributes of an effective mentee / mentor, to ensure participants are not only effective but also has the ability to encourage a safe environment. Key prerequisites attributes of effective mentors / mentees...
Words: 1332 - Pages: 6
...What is the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994? The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, also known as the 1994 Crime Bill, was a comprehensive piece of legislation passed by the United States Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton on September 13, 1994. It was one of the largest crime bills in U.S. history and aimed to address various issues related to crime and law enforcement. There are seven key provisions of the 1994 Crime Bill which include the federal assault weapons ban, community oriented policing services (Cops), Violent Offender Incarceration and Truth-in-Sentencing Incentive Grants, Death Penalty Provisions, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Youth Violence Prevention Program,...
Words: 1891 - Pages: 8
...Prison Overcrowding in the US Name: Institutional Affiliation: Prison Overcrowding in the US Introduction Prison overcrowding in the US is a serious problem that has remained elusive for many decades. The problem of prison overcrowding emerged since the invention of prison as correctional facilities in the 19th century and until now; it is still troubling the authorities. Overcrowding in modern prisons is multidimensional problem. Various reasons are blamed for the challenge but they significantly differ from one nation to the other. Causes of prison overcrowding are not limited to the bounds of criminal justice but stretch to other facets of authorities including social welfare plans, availability and ease of access to health services, formal education and job opportunities. Debates on how to handle this issue on political platforms is an enough illustration of the problems political leaders undergo in looking for a lasting solution challenged by increased pressure from court orders and rigorous financial crisis. It is therefore evident that it is much easier to have overcrowded prisons than it is to develop and implement effective and efficient ways to manage overcrowding in prisons. Overcrowding in prisons is a broad problem that is centered on issues of policies and crime research. These issues involve criminal sentencing, the role of correctional facilities and sentences, accommodation of prisoners with access to health care and rehabilitation services and causes of crimes...
Words: 2427 - Pages: 10
...Do Prisons Work? Can Individuals be Reformed or Rehabilitated through Incarceration and Treatment Programs. Critically examine the Current Treatment Programs offered and Subsequent Impact on Recidivism upon Individuals being released globally and WA specifically. This study will examine the effectiveness of current prison treatment programs in Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia, United States of America in rehabilitating or reforming an individual and coinciding recidivism rates upon a prisoners release. Prison based treatment programs for sex offenders in Western Australia, New South Wales and New Zealand are examined and recidivism rates compared. Treatment programs for offenders with drug and alcohol issues and the various strategies within the criminal justice system such as diversion, education and drug court programs are examined and differences explained. Rehabilitation programs such as education, life skills, employment and cognitive behavioural treatment are explained and research discussed. Conclusions will be drawn outlining programs with the highest level of recidivism both in Western Australia and globally. The “nothing works” mantra (Martinson) 1974, is seen to be refuted and treatment is seen to be successful when it is matched to the criminogenic needs of the offender (MacKenzie, 2006). Future recommendations are made in regards to the need for correctional staff to assess each offender as an individual with different needs, and to therefore...
Words: 2879 - Pages: 12
...RACISM IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM By Nichole Griffith Advised by Professor Chris Bickel SOC 461, 462 Senior Project Social Sciences Department College of Liberal Arts CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY June, 2012 © 2012 Nichole Griffith Table of Contents Research Proposal ............................................................................................................................1 Annotated Bibliography ...................................................................................................................2 Outline..............................................................................................................................................6 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................7 Research ..........................................................................................................................................8 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................29 Bibliography .................................................................................................................................31 Research Proposal The goal of my research is to expose the racism in the criminal justice system that is so hidden. I want to show how racism contributes to the huge number...
Words: 9753 - Pages: 40
...underexplored explanations for these disparities and outlines possible solutions to begin addressing them. Oftentimes, popular culture has offered unfortunately erroneous explanations for the stark racial disparate impact of HIV/ AIDS. The mass media, for example, has suggested that black men “on the down low” infect black women by secretly sleeping with male partners, acting as a bisexual “bridge” between gay and straight communities. But public health scholars have found little support for this theory. Many may assume that black people suffer from greater HIV prevalence because they are considered less sexually responsible than whites. Yet several studies have shown that black women and black men who have sex with men—the two groups most severely impacted by HIV/AIDS—have similar numbers of sexual partners and use condoms as often as their white counterparts. Thus, behavioral risk factors, while important, cannot fully explain the racial disparity. Instead, the racial HIV gap and the racial health gap in general, is strongly correlated with the racial wealth gap, which in turn is the direct outcome of both historical and contemporary processes of segregation in housing, education, employment, and health care as well as racially skewed mass incarceration. In this way,...
Words: 5868 - Pages: 24
...The criminal sanctions (Punishments) Prof. Dr. Ayman Elzeiny A - Introduction : "Punishment, "is a concept; criminal punishment is a legal fact." At the heart of all attempts to handle offenders are systematic images of human life and culture, including knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes regarding the human condition and the meanings, purposes, and ethical foundation and rationale of punishment. These ideologies or philosophical approaches provide explanations for the past behavior of the offender, guidelines as to what ought to be done with or to him, and bases for predicting his future after return to the free world. A sentence is an authorized judicial decision that places some degree of penalty on a guilty person. The responsibility for administering this judicial decision is placed with corrections. (1) If we take a historical and global view, the philosophy of punishment has been embodied in four major theoretical positions: vengeance, deterrence, rehabilitation ,and prevention. These positions overlap and intertwine with each other, but a degree of evolution is also evident. The comments made below on these four positions must be understood simply as broad generalizations. ___________________ (1) Gregory Zilboorg, M.D., The Psychology of the Criminal Act and Punishment, Greenwood Press, New York, 1968 , p. 97. - Ernest van den Haag, Punishing Criminals ,New York: Basic Books, Inc., Publishers, U.S.A, 1975 , pp. 14-15. When punishment is justified...
Words: 16677 - Pages: 67
...Communities Creating OPPORTUNITY NOW Agenda—October 18th, 2011, 6:30pm to 8:15pm Yellow highlight=needs revision or update Magenta highlight=program team help cue the audience to participate through applause, sign waving, cheers, standing Red means this is a pin question—commitment question we are asking to those present in the audience or our elected officials or civic leaders. Green highlight means we will reinforce this point with a power point slide or graph. 6:00 pm God's Power Band will provide transition music. They will also perform one solo song midway during the program. 6:10 pm Come Together Choirs Start: 1. Congregation/Choir name: Our Lady of Peace Catholic Song selection: "Con Fe" (5min) Number of people in choir: 12-15 2. Congregation/Choir name: St. Peter CME - Song selection: "Let the Glory of the Lord Rise Among Us" (5min) Number of people in choir: 12-15 3. Congregation/Choir name: Ander's Choir Song selection: "STILL NEED SONG TITLE"? (5min) Number of people in choir: 6 6:30pm Logistics & Recognition of I AM exhibit: (Co-Chairs) * REV. JOHNSON: Welcome, as you are finding your seats, please make sure you have signed in, have an Opportunity Now sticker! Restrooms can be found in the main lobby to the right. Make sure to turn your cell phones off. Translation headsets are available. * ORLANDO GALLARD0: Tenemos equipos de traduccion en la mesa de registracion...
Words: 10110 - Pages: 41
