African Americans & Crime

*All statistics used on this page are from the U.S. Department of Justice
2003-2007
Estimated number of inmates held in state or federal prison or in local jails per 100,000 residents 2003-2007

          Men    Women                  
Year    Total   White   Black  Hispanic    Total   White   Black   Hispanic
2007    1,406    773    4,618    1,747        136      95      348        146
2006    1,384    736    4,789    1,862        134      94      358        152
2005    1,371    709    4,682    1,856        129      88      347        144
2004    1,348    717    4,919    1,717        123      81      359        143
2003    1,331    681    4,834    1,778        119      75      352        148
Note: Based on the U.S. resident population estimates for Midyear , 2003-2007, by gender, race, Hispanic origin, and age. Detailed categories exclude persons who reported two or more races.
2003-2007
Estimated number of persons held in state or federal prisons or local jails, by gender, race, Hispanic origin, and age, Midyear, 2003-2007 (excludes 2005)

         Male                 Female                              
Year    Total         White       Black     Hispanic   Total       White    Black    Hispanic
2007   2,090,800   755,500   814,700   410,900    208,300   96,600   67,600   32,100
2006   2,042,100   718,100   836,800   426,900    203,100   95,300   68,800   32,400
2004   1,947,800   695,800   842,500   366,800    183,400   81,700   67,700   28,600
2003   1,902,300   665,100   832,400   363,900    176,300   76,100   66,800   28,300
Note: Based on the U.S. resident population estimates for Midyear , 2003-2007, by gender, race, Hispanic origin, and age. Detailed categories exclude persons who reported two or more races.
Black males ages 30 to 34 have the highest incarceration rate of any race/ethnicity. Of the total 2.1 million male inmates in Jail or Prison, Black males represent the largest percentage 35.4%, followed by white males 32.9%, and Hispanic males 17.9%.
Total increase in number of persons held in custody in prison or local jail, June 30, 2000 to 2007

     Total Percent increase
Total
Males
White
Black
Hispanic

Females
White
Black
Hispanic
Note: Numbers were estimated and rounded to the nearest 100.
Black Men and Women represented a smaller percentage of the increase in the population incarcerated in Jail or Prison. over the last last eight years. From midyear 2000 through midyear 2007, Black men in prison or jail increased by 23,100 which was 6.3% of the overall increase to the total population in custody. This is compared to the Hispanic men were responsible for the  the largest increase to the population in jail or prison with 120,000 inmates 32.7%. White men accounted for 25.0% of the increase and white women for 9.0% during this same time period. While the incarcerated population of Black women actually declined by 1,900 during this period.

Although Black women were incarcerated (prison or jail) at higher rates than Hispanic or white women across almost all age categories, their rate of incarceration decreased 8.4% since midyear 2000. This while the rate for White women increased 51% over the same amount of time.


367,200      100%
315,100       85.8%
91,800 25.0
23,100 6.3
120,000       32.7

52,100 14.2%
32,900 9.0
-1,900 -0.5
12,600 3.4
Over one third (33.8%) of the total males in Jail or Prison were ages 20 to 29. The largest percentage of black (35.5%) and Hispanic (39.9%) males
held in custody were ages 20 to 29. In contrast to white males whose largest age group was ages 35 to 44 accounting for the (30.1%) of the white male incarcerated population. According to the US Department of Justice, when comparing the incarceration rates to the to the American residential population, black males are 6 times and Hispanic males are a little more than 2 times more likely to be held in custody than white males in 2007.
This has been a phrase carelessly thrown out by many in the media and with organizations who are both for and against black interests. It has become one of those quotes that have been overused so much that almost everyone believes it as factual. This is one of the most misleading phrases used in reference to black men.

According to government figures, more than twice as many young black men are now enrolled in college than are imprisoned.

Several studies, including one by the Justice Policy Institute, which advocates alternatives to incarceration, have concluded that over all, more black men are in prison than are enrolled in colleges and universities.

But among 18- to 24-year-olds, more young black men are enrolled in college (and live either on campus or elsewhere) than are incarcerated.

In 2003, according to Justice Department figures, 193,000 black college-age men were in prison. While 532,000 black college-age men were attending college. Now, the number of young black men in prison is too high, however not as high as others would lead us to believe.


U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Prison and Jail Inmates
at Midyear 2003-2007
Are there really more Black men in jail than in college?
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