Is racism behind rising number of visible minorities in jail

[Anonymous]

I heard about this today and I felt it deserved discussion..



Do you feel racism is behind increasing numbers of visible minorities in federal prisons in Canada?

 

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/11/26/covert-racism-behind-increased-numbers-of-aboriginals-and-other-visible-minorities-in-prisons-watchdog-says/">http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/11/26 ... hdog-says/">http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/11/26/covert-racism-behind-increased-numbers-of-aboriginals-and-other-visible-minorities-in-prisons-watchdog-says/

OTTAWA — The increased numbers of Aboriginals and visible minorities in federal prisons is evidence of covert racism, discrimination and cultural bias in Canada's justice system, says Canada's prison watchdog.



In his annual report tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, Canada's correctional investigator, Howard Sapers, said the number of visible minority inmates is partly reflective of the overall demographic change in Canadian society, but also shows that disproportionate representation of minorities in comparison to their share of the general population is a persistent and growing problem.



According to Sapers' report, Canada's prison population has grown by 2,100 inmates — a 16.5%  increase — in the last 10 years.



In that time, the overall Aboriginal population in the prisons grew by 46%, while the number of Aboriginal women increased by 80% and now accounts for one in three women under federal sentence.



The prison population of other visible minorities including black, Hispanic, Asian and Indian increased by almost 75%, Sapers found. One in four inmates is foreign-born.



Meanwhile the population of Caucasian inmates fell by 3%.



"Recent population growth is almost exclusively driven by an increasing number of Aboriginal and visible minority groups behind bars," Sapers said.



"Today, 40% of the federal inmate population is composed of non-Caucasian offenders."



The numbers are particularly striking when compared to the general population. Aboriginals account for nearly one-quarter of all prisoners but comprise four per cent of the Canadian population. African-Canadians comprise nearly 10 per cent of the prison population but less than three per cent of Canadian society. The black inmate population in federal institutions has grown by nearly 90 per cent since 2003, the report says.



"I think it raises some very significant questions about our commitment to inclusion, social justice, equity, equality," said Sapers of the findings.



"Our justice system is held up as a model around the world and I think we need to do everything necessary to ensure it deserves the international reputation that it has."





Our justice system is held up as a model around the world and I think we need to do everything necessary to ensure it deserves the international reputation that it has

.

Sapers said Canada's prison system must address this cultural shift by introducing more culturally relevant programs, increasing staff who speak languages other than English and French, and recommended ethnicity liaison officers be placed in Canadian institutions.



Sapers said the findings of his report support longstanding claims of a systemic bias in Canada's justice system that results in more minorities behind bars.



Once minorities get to prison, covert and subtle racism is often commonplace, he said.



A case study of the experiences of black prisoners found they were over-represented in segregation placement compared to their population in prison, incurred a disproportionate number of charges while behind bars — especially charges that were up to the discretion of staff — and were more likely to be subject to use of force.



Black inmates are also over-represented in maximum-security prisons, despite generally posing a lower risk to re-offend, Sapers said "They are also released later in their sentence and are less likely to be granted day or full parole."



Additonally, interviews with black prisoners consistently raised experiences of prejudicial attitudes by some corrections staff, Sapers said.



Many black men felt they were stereotyped as gang members by corrections staff, no matter their behaviour, Sapers said, while one institution forced black members of a literacy group to read aloud passages from The Adventures of Hucklberry Finn, a book "riddled" with racist and demeaning terminology in its description of black characters. The experience led some black members to quit attending the group.



"I think we all know when we're being treated differently," Sapers said. "We all know when we're being dismissed."



Yet despite their experience in prison, Sapers' investigation found visible minorities tend to fare better upon release than the general prison population. Black inmates specifically show a lower rate of recidivism once released.



"The positive difference in release outcomes raises questions beyond the scope of our investigation," Sapers said. "In particular, questions about the appropriateness of a sentence to federal custody in the first place."



While Canada's prisons have made strides in addressing needs along gender lines, more must be done to combat prejudice against minorities behind bars, Sapers concluded.





Canada is an increasingly pluralistic and multicultural country. There is no room or excuse for differential treatment based on creed, colour or culture

.

"Canada is an increasingly pluralistic and multicultural country. There is no room or excuse for differential treatment based on creed, colour or culture."



Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney rejected the report's findings in Question Period Tuesday. "I do not believe that convicted criminals are entitled to their own private accommodation," Blaney said. "The suggestions of racial bias in prison are totally inaccurate. The only group that our system of justice is targeting are criminals."

[Odinson]

I´m back! Haha



It´s not racism. The damn meatheads are acting all uncivilized in civilized world.



They are just being given more harsh sentences so that they will learn by example.

[Anonymous]

I´m back! Haha



It´s racism. The damn meatheads are acting all uncivilized in civilized world.



They are just being given more harsh sentences so that they will learn by example.

You are saying it's racism and that judges are deliberately giving harsher to minority prisoners?



I have to say, how surprised and deeply disappointed I was to learn about this trend.

 :(

[Odinson]

I meant to say it´s NOT racism.

Kinda like when USA dropped the A-bombs... The japanese learned the pecking order in this world.



Innocents had to suffer greatly because of the actions of few.



The aboriginals and the FOB scum need to learn their place. In the west, we do things the western way.

[Anonymous]

I meant to say it´s NOT racism.

Kinda like when USA dropped the A-bombs... The japanese learned the pecking order in this world.



Innocents had to suffer greatly because of the actions of few.



The aboriginals and the FOB scum need to learn their place. In the west, we do things the western way.

This is a very disturbing trend and we need to as a country figure out why it is happening, so we can reverse it..



My brother is a policeman and I don't want to think he is part of the problem.

 :(

[Odinson]

I meant to say it´s NOT racism.

Kinda like when USA dropped the A-bombs... The japanese learned the pecking order in this world.



Innocents had to suffer greatly because of the actions of few.



The aboriginals and the FOB scum need to learn their place. In the west, we do things the western way.

This is a very disturbing trend and we need to as a country figure out why it is happening, so we can reverse it..



My brother is a policeman and I don't want to think he is part of the problem.

Makes them think twice before they stray from the law.



It is the solution to the problem. You have to think long term.

[Anonymous]

I meant to say it´s NOT racism.

Kinda like when USA dropped the A-bombs... The japanese learned the pecking order in this world.



Innocents had to suffer greatly because of the actions of few.



The aboriginals and the FOB scum need to learn their place. In the west, we do things the western way.

This is a very disturbing trend and we need to as a country figure out why it is happening, so we can reverse it..



My brother is a policeman and I don't want to think he is part of the problem.

Makes them think twice before they stray from the law.



It is the solution to the problem. You have to think long term.

But are they being treated fairly by the police, courts and once incarcerated?



From this article the answer seems to be no.

[Obvious Li]

I meant to say it´s NOT racism.

Kinda like when USA dropped the A-bombs... The japanese learned the pecking order in this world.



Innocents had to suffer greatly because of the actions of few.



The aboriginals and the FOB scum need to learn their place. In the west, we do things the western way.

This is a very disturbing trend and we need to as a country figure out why it is happening, so we can reverse it..



My brother is a policeman and I don't want to think he is part of the problem.

 :(

Fash...for gods sake......it is happening because blacks and natives engage proportionally in more crime than any other race.....plain and simple...the jails aren't full of chinese or east asians....just blacks and injuns........drugs, alcohol, sloth, FAS, abuse, laziness and a host of other societal issues plague these two communities resulting in a disproportionate number of young males landing in jail......where criminals should be

[Anonymous]

Minority populations are rising, Caucasians as a % of the population are declining. It's simple demographics. Violent offenders are ending up in prison where they belong. Their race/ethnicity is not important as long as violent criminals are separated from society. End of story.

[Odinson]

We have moslims and black/moslims flooding our prisons. They have their prisons because they are getting killed by the whites.



The sami are drunks but not criminals.



Some vietnamese in there because they are killing their wives frequently.



The situation in the states is fucked up. Caucasians still are the 290mill., yet the AA-males are the kings of incarceration.

[Anonymous]

There is one other thing too at least about immigrant and first generation minorities who are arrested and sent off to jail. I will bet anything if you look at their backgrounds you will see the troublemakers did not come here as skilled immigrants. Either they or their families are here as refugees or family reunification.

[Odinson]

You think that immigration should only be work-based? Why didn´t I think of that...



I´ll say no skills, no education, FUCK OFF! No family reunifications unless you are going to pay for them yourself.



Same goes for other whites, asians and africans.

It´s like these asshole greenie politicians do not know how to use wealth. They are like Paris Hiltons with daddys credit card. "Daddy pays, I dont have to worry about shit. I´m a Hilton".



The refugees are damaged goods. They are scarred for life... A man whom has seen nothing but conflict and took part to it all his life is a broken down wreck in a peaceful environment like Nordic countries.

[Frost]

I think social standards count for a lot of the people in jail, maybe have a single, or no parents raising them.

I would guess you look at the demographics that most people in jail being of what ever color has less than a normal home life.

A lot are raising themselves, and or by friends who should be parented.

Also the social groups trying to emulate their now a day heroes like cRap artist, and your usual thugs on tv filth.

[Anonymous]

I think social standards count for a lot of the people in jail, maybe have a single, or no parents raising them.

I would guess you look at the demographics that most people in jail being of what ever color has less than a normal home life.

A lot are raising themselves, and or by friends who should be parented.

Also the social groups trying to emulate their now a day heroes like cRap artist, and your usual thugs on tv filth.

Yep as well as the offspring of refugees and family reunification, people that grow up in single parent homes would be high on the list of those in jail.

[Frost]

I see it all the time where kids are raising themselves. A poor woman has to work, do chores, and no time to raise them.

She or he even will be at work, the kids come home to an empty house just to run out with friends.

It's sad, they may get street smart, but not raised properly.