Pubdate: Tue, 24 Jul 2001
Source: Greenville News (SC)
Copyright: 2001 The Greenville News
Contact:  http://greenvillenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/877

OVERREPRESENTED

Drug War Locks Up More Blacks

Blacks account for 27 percent of South Carolina's population, yet comprise 
more than 68 percent of its prison inmates, according to figures released 
by the U.S. Census. Many factors - cultural, social and economic - can be 
cited as contributors to such a high concentration of black males in 
prison. In terms of policy, the one thing that deserves the most review is 
this nation's war on drugs.

By extension, the war on drugs is also South Carolina's battle. Here, 
blacks have suffered the heaviest casualties because of law enforcement 
strategies that have been successful at locking up heavily minority 
street-level dealers, mandatory minimum sentencing, disparities between 
penalties for crack and powder cocaine and a traditional disregard for 
treatment over incarceration for nonviolent, small-time drug offenders.

There has been some encouraging policymaking of late aimed at stemming the 
tide of drug incarcerations overall. Drug Courts have shown great promise 
by allowing first-time drug offenders to successfully complete treatment 
and avoid prison.

Also, a waning appetite for crack cocaine has meant a decrease in violence 
associated with the sale and use of the drug.

Still, there is an outcry among prison advocates for federal and state 
officials to review the consequences of mandatory minimums and the fairness 
of higher penalties for crack cocaine. Politics makes substantive review 
unlikely.

The best hope to stop this trend is education, mentoring programs and 
pre-trial intervention programs that give young offenders a chance to avoid 
prison.
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