Racial Discrepancies In

The SC Prison System

Clint Cooper and Jonathan Estrella

The Problem of
Race in the US

Based on 2013 Data, in the US:

African Americans are 2.5 times as likely to
be arrested than whites (FBI Uniform Crime
Reports, USCB)
African Americans are newly admitted to
prison at 6.1 times the rate of whites (NCCD)
In federal prisons, African Americans held at
4.5 times the rate of whites; In state prisons,
African Americans incarcerated at 6 times
the rate of whites (NCCD)
Although African Americans and Whites are
about equal in number of new admittances
to prison and total prison populations, they
are more likely to end up in jail and less
likely to receive probation or be granted
parole (NCCD)

The Problem of
Race in the US
Even though National Survey
data suggests whites and
blacks are involved in alcohol
and illegal drugs at the same
rates:
Blacks are 2.5 times as likely to be
arrested for illegal drug use (FBI
UCR)
Of those arrested, about 8% of
whites will serve jail time in a state
prison, as compared to 22% of
African Americans (FBI UCR, BJS)

Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health,

US HHS

 SC isRacial
more likely to
incarcerate/ convict, but lessin
likely to
Does SC have Serious
Discrimination
grant probation and parole
Black-to-white
ratio shows that SC, compared to other
the Justice
System?
states, is less discriminatory
IA has a 13.6 B-to-W incarceration ratio (Sentencing Project)
SC has a 4.5 B-to-W prison incarceration ratio (Sentencing
Project)
There is still, however, racial discrimination in SC

Source: The Sentencing Project

Source: National Institute of Corrections

Does SC have Serious Racial Discrimination in

the Justice System?

Racial Discrimination in SC
Blacks are more likely to be charged with violent crimes (SCDC)
Homicide, robbery, assault and dangerous drugs
Robbery vs. burglary

Blacks are more likely to be younger and face longer sentences,

and less likely to receive probation
66% (9,311) of black inmates are under the age of 40; as compared to
53.8% (4,051) of whites (SCDC)
52.2% of black male inmates serve 10 years or longer; 46.5% of white male
inmates serve 10 years or longer (SCDC)
In SC, blacks are 4.5 times as likely to end up in prison, but only 2.6 times
as likely to receive probation as compared to whites as a percentage of
population (NCCD)

The Issue: Retributive Justice vs. Restorative

Justice
Retributive Justice punishment should fit the crime
How many people view notion of justice
History of SC has turned Retributive Justice into Revenge Justice
Likely candidate for high rates of recidivism

Restorative Justice focus on reintegration into society, healing

the damage caused by crime
Involving the victim in the rehabilitation process
Initial studies positive for juvenile, non-violent offenders

Retributive Justice/ Revenge Justice, in relation to racial

discrimination, lead to issues of crime today
Lack of jobs, family, etc.

Application of Restorative Justice in SC

Youth Courts
Targets youths in juvenile range
Offenders sentenced by peers/ community in coordination with Department of
Education/ Juvenile Justice
Study found those with program integrity have better chances of relating values of
restorative justice to youth

Youthful Offender Act passed in 2011

Goal is to reduce recidivism among youths
Keeps them from going to prison; works on reintegration

Intensive Supervision Services

New part of Youthful Offender Act
Focus on community service and education

Are these working? Possibly; recidivism is going down

Questions?

Too bad