Racial Disparities in Americas Justice System Research Paper

Racial Disparities in Americas Justice System - Research Paper Example Whereas the inequalities experienced in other areas of societies are steadily reducing, it is quite concerning that in the country’s criminal justice system, these inequalities continue to grow (LCEF & LCCR, 2000). A report by the National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD), African Americans in the country are estimated to constitute about 13% of the country’s total population, however, despite this relatively low percentage, African-Americans are statistically estimated to constitute about 28% of all arrests. These figures by the NCCD are found to be similar to those of a report by Mauer (1999) that found that despite their constituting of only 13% of the total population, African Americans account for 40% of all the inmates that are currently being held in jails and prisons around the country. In addition to this, they also constitute about 42% of the total population on death row. In comparison, White American are estimated to make up about 67% of the country’s population and account for 70% of all the arrests that are made across the country. They account for 40% of all inmates that are held in prisons and local jails, this is a figure found to be similar to that of the African American population. Whites also make up about 56% of the total population that is currently on death row (Taxman & Byrne, 2005). Native Americans and Hispanics are noted to be alarmingly overrepresented in the United States Criminal justice system.  Ã‚