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Newsbrief:
What
Racist
Drug
War?
Ask
Maryland
10/24/03
A study commissioned by Maryland's
Legislative Black Caucus and reported Thursday in the Baltimore Sun offers
a stunning picture of racially disparate justice in the state. While
blacks constitute 28% of the state's population, they make up 76% of all
Maryland prisoners, the study found. Worse yet, 90% of people in
prison for drug offenses in the state are African-Americans.
Maryland prison growth since
1970 has come largely on the back of the black population, according to
the study conducted by the Justice Policy Institute. Blacks accounted
for more than 75% of the total increase in prison population and an astounding
94% of the increase in drug prisoners, a figure that has jumped from 5%
of the prison population in the 1980s to 24% now.
Maryland now trails only
New York and New Jersey in the percentage of prisoners doing time for drug
crimes, the study found. "The reason Maryland has the third highest
proportion of drug prison admissions in the country is because too many
African Americans and Latinos are incarcerated for drug and other nonviolent
offenses," explained Vincent Schiraldi, report coauthor and Justice Policy
Institute Executive Director. "If Maryland diverts drug and other
nonviolent offenders from prison into rigorous community treatment, it
will reduce unwarranted disparities, improve outcomes and save taxpayer
dollars. Reducing racial disparity is key to building a more balanced
and effective justice system in the state of Maryland."
Read the study and associated
materials by going to http://www.justicepolicy.org
and clicking on "New Report -- Race and Incarceration in Maryland."
-- END --
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Issue #308, 10/24/03
Bolivians Deal Blow to US Andean Drug Policy |
University of Virginia Drug Bust Draws Complaints, Disbelief |
Seattle's Sensible Marijuana Initiative Idea Catches On -- Eugene Next? |
DRCNet Interview: Robert Rapplean of Parents and Educators for the Reform of Drug Laws |
Press Release: Pain Coalition Seeks Relief Through Chronic Pain Treatment Act |
Newsbrief: Hawaii to Prosecute Mother in Meth Baby Case |
Newsbrief: Urine Sales Case Before South Carolina Supreme Court |
Newsbrief: What Racist Drug War? Ask Maryland |
Newsbrief: Latest Gallup Poll Finds Public Believes Drugs a Serious Problem But Not the Most Serious |
Newsbrief: Glacial Movement on Ganja Decrim in Jamaica |
Newsbrief: This Week's Corrupt Cops Story |
Newsbrief: Canada to Look at Subsidized Housing for Junkies |
Perry Fund Accepting Applications for 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 School Years, Providing Scholarships for Students Losing Aid Because of Drug Convictions |
The Reformer's Calendar
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