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?

Search BlackDemographics.com