The home of the brave and land of the free, is no longer a truthful mantra for the United States. We are incarcerating more people every year, than any other country in the world. Majority of these offenders are jailed on non violent drug charges. Based on policies enforced through the War on Drugs, the United States has ground level officers arresting more people than ever before. 6 black men are being arrested for every 1 white male. A silent problem that seems to be left out of the equation is; when someone is incarcerated with a felony, they lose certain privileges asp citizen has. Along with having a revolving door back to prison through the probation program, they also lose their ability to vote in elections. Perhaps the War on Drugs is a modern day effort to suppress the minority vote; in the same vein as early American policies, such as a literacy test or a tax to vote. The United States has fallen prey to the Prison Industrial Complex. Coupled with new programs such as Homeland Security, and policies like the Patriot Act; I’ve never felt more bleak for our democratic future.
The map in the link below highlights the prison population in the United States on a state level. You’re able to compare the populations, spending, and racial disparities by state. It’s a shocking realization when you see the differences in races in terms of incarceration rates.
