Way to go, Brits

[Miss Philicia]

I have to say I find this rather shocking.  It's not just higher but substantially higher -- almost double proportionally.

The Guardian

The proportion of black people in prison in England and Wales is higher than in the United States, a landmark report released today by the Equality and Human Rights Commission reveals.

The commission's first triennial report into the subject, How Fair is Britain, shows that the proportion of people of African-Caribbean and African descent incarcerated here is almost seven times greater to their share of the population. In the United States, the proportion of black prisoners to population is about four times greater.

The report, which aims to set out how to measure "fairness" in Britain, says that ethnic minorities are "substantially over-represented in the custodial system". It suggests many of those jailed have "mental health issues, learning disabilities, have been in care or experienced abuse".

Experts and politicians said over-representation of black men was a result of decades of racial prejudice in the criminal justice system and an overly punitive approach to penal affairs.

[Realist]

Oh it gets better. We are about to scrap the Government funded body (Equalities and Human Rights Commission) which produced the report.

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/09/24/hiv-quangos-face-the-axe-while-ehrc-is-at-risk/

[Miss Philicia]

"Big Society" ?

[skeebo1969]

   I heard they call rednecks over there British people.  Can anyone confirm?

[fearless]

Pfft... the Brits can never outdo us Philly.

More than 20 years after the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people represent 24 per cent of the total prison population - up from 12 per cent in 1988 - making them 13 times more likely to be in prison than non-indigenous Australians.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/aboriginal-australia/stop-them-going-to-jail/story-e6frgd9f-1111117255239

[fearless]

Some more interesting facts:

•Indigenous people make up 24% of the prison population, but only 2.5% of the Australian population
•In WA, an Indigenous person is 21 times more likely to be imprisoned than a non-Indigenous person
•The highest proportion of Indigenous prisoners (22%) are aged between 20 and 24 years
•Indigenous women are the fastest growing group of prisoners in Australia
•Young indigenous people are 30 times more likely to be held in detention in NSW than non-Indigenous young people

[Theyer]

And the detention centers we have for people seeking aslyum are a fucking disgrace

[dixieman]

I do not find it shocking... I read the article... of the negroid race only 15% are incarrcerated in the prison system in England and Wales... whats is the other 85% caucasion and other races... do they want them to let them free to go out and commit more crimes?  Well all I can do is answer for the immediate area... Alabama and unfortunately a higher percentage of the crime in my area is committed by people of the Negroid race... percentage wise and number wise... almost as many caucasions and other races are locked up with them... and generally speaking in this area alone... its Black on black... 10 to one... I have a friend who teaches in the public school system locally... the kids today negroid, caucasion all have a higher percentage in you owe me attitude? so theres alot more that willbe eventually behind bars in the future... unfortunately.. and its not from not having the same chances... its the CHOICES they are making... so this article is Extremely one sided and very missleading...

[skeebo1969]

    I think I'm racist, I have something against androids.

[Jeff G]

I have a friend who teaches in the public school system locally... the kids today negroid, caucasion all have a higher percentage in you owe me attitude? so theres alot more that willbe eventually behind bars in the future... unfortunately.. and its not from not having the same chances... its the CHOICES they are making... so this article is Extremely one sided and very missleading...

Its my opinion that in Alabama and all of America for that matter people do not have the same chances and choices by a long shot ... and I might also argue that a race of people doesent commit crimes , individual people do .

[denb45]

What is a Negroid race? I'm highly offended by this as a poz black male  just kidding 

[skeebo1969]

What is a Negroid race?

I am here and I have the answer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negroid_race

[Matty the Damned]

I do not find it shocking... I read the article... of the negroid race only 15% are incarrcerated in the prison system in England and Wales... whats is the other 85% caucasion and other races... do they want them to let them free to go out and commit more crimes?  Well all I can do is answer for the immediate area... Alabama and unfortunately a higher percentage of the crime in my area is committed by people of the Negroid race... percentage wise and number wise... almost as many caucasions and other races are locked up with them... and generally speaking in this area alone... its Black on black... 10 to one... I have a friend who teaches in the public school system locally... the kids today negroid, caucasion all have a higher percentage in you owe me attitude? so theres alot more that willbe eventually behind bars in the future... unfortunately.. and its not from not having the same chances... its the CHOICES they are making... so this article is Extremely one sided and very missleading...

Settle down there David Duke. Don't get yer hooded robe in a tangle. 

MtD

[denb45]

I am here and I have the answer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negroid_race

Well, I never  ROFLOL   skeeboo, you know I'm as white as you, I'm High-Yellow, or light-skinned black 

[Hellraiser]

I am here and I have the answer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negroid_race

This link is the most interesting part of this thread.  Anthropological classifications, oh my!

[BT65]

I have to say I'm a bit surprised, as I thought that here in the States, we had the corner on the marketplace as far as the disproportionate number of black people locked up compared to white people. 

And I have to agree with Jg, Dixieman.  People in every race have different beliefs in life, different values, and do different things with their lives.  What I understand from your posting is, that you are a bit of a racist.  But, it doesn't surprise me.  I think Jg is the exception of a lot of Southern people's attitudes. (I did live in Alabama 3 different times, so I have an idea of how a lot of Southerners feel). (and please don't any people from the South get your panties in a bunch, I didn't say all Southerners feel that way)

[Hellraiser]

I have to say when people talk about incarceration and race it always surprises me that it's perceived as racism.  Justice is blind, right?  The legal system isn't setting people up to commit crimes.  They're committing crimes and being caught and being jailed.  That isn't a function of the color of their skin unless or course you assume white people are knowingly not being prosecuted for the same crimes.  Which I don't think is the case at all.

I could see the argument that maybe due to socio-economic circumstances beyond the control of the criminal there is a system in place which sets them up for failure.

Read: 

http://www.jsonline.com/business/63199582.html

http://www.thegrio.com/money/african-american-unemployment-dips-slightly-black-teen-joblessness-nears-50-percent.php

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/24/politics/washingtonpost/main5761670.shtml


With that in mind I can see where crime offers a venue for money that can't necessarily be gotten from an employer.  Calling it full on racism is a horse of a different color though.  I find that statement quite racist in and of itself.  The question is did the criminal commit the crime and if the answer is yes then I don't really care what color their skin is.  To put this into perspective.  How did you acquire your HIV?  Unprotected Sex?  Are you a gay male?  Ok then obviously this disease is homophobic because it preys on a disproportionately large number of gay men.

Edit:  Oh and the joblessness links I posted are all about American African American males, I have no idea what the joblessness rate in the UK looks like.

[bmancanfly]

What's happening to America?  I can remember when we were number one in everything.  More evidence of our inexorable decline.

 

[OneTampa]

@Skeebo,

Oh well, we simply can not dispute Ms. Wiki and the Gang can we?  Here is what they post about the racial color wheel, in alphabetical order

Albino People:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albinism

Black People:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_people

Blue People:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_people

Brown People:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_people

Green People:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_people

Red People:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_people

White People:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_people

Yellow People:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_people
_____

People free of color:  http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special%3ASearch&search=people+free+of+color  

Posted by a never jailed (to-date), gainfully employed (fingers crossed), African-Native American, Haitian, with a twist of Jew Male who's skin color trends to light brown in winter and dark brown in summer with a reddish patina.

[skeebo1969]

Posted by a never jailed (to-date), gainfully employed (fingers crossed), African-Native American, Haitian, with a twist of Jew Male who's skin color trends to light brown in winter and dark brown in summer with a reddish patina.

I'm German-Irish with a little bit of Greek, adopted by a French guy who was half black half white with the word "Sambo" tattooed on his arm.

[OneTampa]

Skeebo,

You are something else!  LMAO!