The hypocrisy has reached new levels

[kandrathe]

Check what the state of Oklahoma had to say about race and incarceration. Note table three: nationwide, 1099 blacks per 100,000 were incarcerated, the total for whites being just 165 per 100,000. I don't know about you, but I'd prefer a slightly worse chance to get into university over being six times as likely to be thrown in jail. White guys have it so tough these days!

I think this report and it's conclusions are a perfect example of how to lie with statistics. The numbers are all accurate, however no analysis of the population is presented. What percentage of these incarcerated persons are poor? What percentage of these crimes were recidivist?

a] Police presence, arrests, and activity are more intense in areas that have higher crime and poverty. In the city near me, 80% of the homicides occur within a 1 mile square area, and it is the area that has the highest drug sales and use. 97% of these murders are related to drug dealing, or domestic violence. If you go to that area anytime of the day or night you will see police everywhere. In my neighborhood, I saw one police car drive through here about three years ago to drop off a 9 year old boy who had gotten himself lost.

b] The disparity of the imprisonment rates may also be due to a disparity in who is commiting the crimes. The problem is not therefore that some people are being imprisoned unfairly, or that some groups are getting away with crimes. The problem is that some people are resorting to crime because they are being denied access to the legitimate economy.

c] There is a pronounced linkage between poverty and crime, but not all poor people resort to crime.