African-Americans and The Death Penalty
Of the 301.6 million inhabitants in the United States, African Americans comprise 13.1% (roughly over 40.7 million. A unique paradox resonates in that despite so called certain gains from integration, various ills continue to place the second largest racial/ethic group after whites in a quagmire. Crime by far is one such factor.
U.S. crime rate is categorized by two indices – violent crime (homicide, forcible rape, robbery and assault) and property crime (burglary, larceny/theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson). Compared to other developed countries, U.S. crime rate is the highest due possession of firearms by criminals (Krug, 1998). Also prevalent is a high incarceration rate, with 7 million people reported be either in prison, on probation, or parole in 2006- according to the Justice Department With a little over 5% of the world population, the US constitutes 25% of the world’s imprisoned population. Of the 301.6 million inhabitants in the United States, African Americans comprise 13.1% (roughly over 40.7 million. A unique paradox resonates in that despite so called certain gains from integration, various ills continue to place the second largest racial/ethic group after whites in a quagmire. Crime by far is one such factor.
While violent and property crime rates have been declining across the United States over the past decade, one particular group within the American population-African Americans-have not experienced such a downward trend in crime (Ortiz, 2007).
A major contributing factor to the crime rate is “intergenerational poverty.” William Julius Wilson, acclaimed American sociologist and poverty expert, coined and purported the concept as the hyperghettoization of urban poverty. The social structure of inner cities is destroyed due to an escalated concentration of underprivileged groups in that area. Its outcome is multifaceted and holistically detrimental for it derives from inadequate and limited access to suitable employment and income opportunities, as well as educational and health facilities. The social protection infrastructure has been destroyed thereby creating a violent and unhealthy environment. This scenario is indicative of many facets.
Black crime and the position of blacks within the nation’s system of criminal justice administration are related to past and present social opportunities and disadvantages and can be understood through consideration of blacks overall social status….Great inequality in the treatment of blacks and whites in the legal system have been present throughout most of the nations history (Jaynes & Williams, Jr. 1989, p. 453-454).
Capital offenses are crimes punishable by the death penalty. Colloquially or from a non-legal parlance, the death penalty and capital punishment are habitually used interchangeably. Lethal injection and electrocution by the electric chair are the most modern/common forms execution. Capital punishment is culturally universal in that it has been practiced in virtually every society throughout the world with the exception of those countries who forbid it based on religious precepts. Suffice to say, it is the subject of an intensely active debate universally as well. An assorted array of feelings arise from many contending it is a violation of human rights, while other contest it is the ultimate justifiable response to a heinous crime.
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